JEDDAH -- Saudi Arabia on Tuesday celebrated the World Alzheimer’s Day, which falls on the 21st of September, with a set of activities and educational campaigns that aim to raise the level of awareness in society about the seriousness of this disease.

The Ministry of Health explained that Alzheimer's disease leads to a gradual decline in memory and thinking skills and hinders the person from the activities of his daily life.

The Saudi Alzheimer’s Disease Association launched awareness campaigns through all channels for raising the public awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and its impacts, including common symptoms and risk factors.

Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease that deteriorates memory and cognitive abilities. It also creates difficulty in problem-solving and multitasking. If timely care is not taken, an individual can behave differently with time, may face concentration troubles and withdraw from social life.

Alois Alzheimer, a German psychiatrist, identified this illness for the first time in 1901 in a 50-year-old German lady.

The Alzheimer Disease International was formed in 1984. On its tenth anniversary, the organization announced the inaugural of World Alzheimer’s Day. They decided to celebrate it on September 21 every year.

In many countries, World Alzheimer’s Day is observed throughout the month. World Alzheimer’s Month was recognized in the year 2012. -- SG/SPA