Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias represent one of the most significant challenges for today’s society, not just because of the consequences they have for sufferers but also the profound impact on their families, carers and society in general.

Barcelona’s first municipal strategy for Alzheimer’s comes as a result of the Barcelona Board for Alzheimer’s, with the involvement and collaboration of organisations, professionals and public and private institutions. With a budget of six million euros, the strategy consists of five lines of action:

1. Raising public awareness and destigmatising Alzheimer’s

Backing for specific campaigns to raise public awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, such as the campaign “Barcelona conscient”, which combines communication and direct action in the neighbourhoods. In addition, activities in libraries, along with audiovisual projects and education workshops. Municipal staff will also be trained to become active assets in awareness.

1. Promotion of brain health, cognitive empowerment and prevention as a priority in public health

Creation of a city programme for cognitive stimulation to be rolled out around local facilities and bring mental maintenance activities closer to everybody, staving off or reducing the risk of dementia.

1. Improvement of early detection, information, guidance, assistance and referrals

The aim is that nobody with dementia misses out on swift detection and suitable support from the first moment, with efforts to improve early detection, referrals and support, with measures to have an impact on coordination between municipal and health services. The focus will also be on combating loneliness, with an integrated website to be created with resources linked to the disease, for those affected and their families.

1. Make Barcelona a leading city in inclusion and support services

Work will be carried out to make public space and municipal facilities better adapted to the needs of people with dementia, as well as the development of support services, such as the local assistance point, and the strengthening of homecare services.

1. Promotion of social and medical research to understand and tackle the impact of Alzheimer’s more efficiently, and facilitate its dissemination

The HUB Alzheimer Barcelona stands out in this sphere as a collaborative research initiative on Alzheimer’s and neurodegenerative diseases, the aim being to consolidate Barcelona as an international leader in this field. The HUB Alzheimer Barcelona connects the efforts of four public hospitals in the city: Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Hospital del Mar and Hospital Vall d’Hebron. It also includes private institutions in specialised research: the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC) of the Fundació Pasqual Maragall and the Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona.

Alzheimer’s in numbers

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people around the world with dementia is expected to triple by 2050, from 50 million to 152.8 million. A report published by the Fundació Paqual Maragall in 2024 estimates that between 830,000 and 950,000 people are affected by dementia in Spain.