Taoiseach Micheál Martin will address the 36th Alzheimer Europe Conference in Dublin later this month, which is expected to bring together more than 1,300 delegates from across Europe.
The conference, co-hosted by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (The ASI), will take place at the Convention Centre Dublin from October 27th to 29th. It will be the first time Ireland has hosted the Alzheimer Europe Conference since 2005. The Taoiseach will address delegates at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, October 27th.
The conference comes as the number of people living with dementia in Ireland is projected to more than double in the coming decades. According to Alzheimer Europe’s latest report, The Prevalence of Dementia in Europe 2025, almost 70,000 people are estimated to be living with dementia in Ireland. That figure is projected to rise to over 151,000 by 2050.
The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Sláinte: Building momentum in dementia through policy, research and partnership’. It will bring together people living with dementia, family carers, researchers, health and social care professionals, policymakers and others working in the area of dementia.
Sessions will reflect the changing dementia landscape, covering developments in research and treatment, brain health and dementia risk reduction, as well as topics including artificial intelligence, care and support.
The conference will provide an opportunity to consider how Ireland can build on the progress made through the National Dementia Strategy, the Model of Care for Dementia in Ireland and the current Programme for Government and further strengthen supports for people living with dementia and their families.
With Ireland holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it will also provide a forum for discussion on dementia policy in Ireland and across Europe.
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “It is a great honour for Ireland to host the 36th Alzheimer Europe Conference in Dublin, in partnership with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, bringing together people from across Europe at a time when dementia is an increasingly important issue for Irish society and for countries across Europe.
“The growing number of people living with dementia is something we need to plan for as our population ages. We need to ensure that our support and services continue to respond to people’s changing needs, enabling people with dementia to live well and independently for as long as possible, while also providing the right support for families and carers.
“Hosting this major European conference gives Ireland an important opportunity to show leadership and learn from the experience of our European partners as we consider how best to respond to dementia in the years ahead. I look forward to welcoming delegates to Dublin and to seeing Ireland play its part in improving the lives of people with dementia and their families, both here at home and across Europe.”
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland Chair, Cathy Reynolds, said: “We, at The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, are looking forward to welcoming all our delegates to Dublin for the upcoming Alzheimer Europe Conference. The conference represents an opportunity to celebrate the longstanding and valued relationship between The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and Alzheimer Europe, which has played a vital role in advancing awareness, research, policy and human rights for people living with dementia across the continent.
“Ireland holds a special place in this story. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland was one of the founding members of Alzheimer Europe in 1991 and remains deeply engaged with the organisationtoday.
“Hosting the Alzheimer Europe Conference in Ireland is a significant milestone for The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and for the wider dementia community. It provides us with an opportunity to showcase progress, learn from colleagues across Europe and help shape the future of dementia care and support. Most importantly, it ensures that people living with dementia and their families remain at the centre of the conversation.”
Andy Heffernan, CEO of The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Taoiseach Micheál Martin to the Alzheimer Europe Conference and to have him address delegates at the opening ceremony.
“The number of people living with dementia in Ireland is expected to more than double by 2050. We cannot afford to wait to respond. We need to prepare now, and we need to be ambitious for peopleliving with dementia. That means ensuring that the right services and supports are there to enable people to live well.
“There have been important developments in dementia research and treatment in recent years. Bringing the conference to Ireland provides an important forum for discussing these developments and sharing knowledge and experience from across Europe. It is essential that people living with dementia and family carers are part of those discussions.”
Dr Kevin Quaid, Chair of both the European Working Group of People with Dementia and the Irish Dementia Working Group, who is living with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease, said: “One of the things I have learned through working with people living with dementia across Ireland and throughout Europe is that, while our experiences may be different, many of the things we want are the same. We want to be seen and valued for who we are. We want to have choices in our own lives and the right support when we need it. Surely that is not too much to ask.
“People living with dementia are an integral part of this conference, bringing our own perspectives and ideas. It is wonderful to welcome people from across Europe to Ireland. For me, it is a chance to learn from each other and to show just how much we have to contribute.”
Paddy Crosbie is a member of the European Dementia Carers Working Group and the Dementia Carers Campaign Network. Paddy cared for his husband Derek, who passed away in 2021 after living with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Paddy said: “My experience of caring for Derek is why I continue to advocate for family carers today. We experienced dementia together, but in very different ways, and I think both of those perspectives are equally important. There is so much involved in caring for someone you love that other people may not always see or understand. That is why, from my perspective, it is so important that family carers are part of this conference and that our experiences are part of the wider conversation about dementia.”
For more information and to register for the Alzheimer Europe Conference 2026, please visit: https://alzheimer.ie/creating-change/awareness-raising/alzheimer-europe-conference-dublin-2026/