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Action day in Merzig: Discover new ways to deal with dementia!
On World Alzheimer's Day 2025, experts at the SHG Merzig Clinic will provide information about dementia and new therapeutic approaches.
Action day in Merzig: Discover new ways to deal with dementia!
September 25, 2025 will be marked as World Alzheimer's Day on many people's calendars. This year, a day of action under the motto “Dementia – be human, stay human” took place at the SHG Klinikum Merzig, which impressively brought the topic into public awareness. The participation of various organizations, including the State Department of Dementia and the AG Altenhilfe Merzig, underlines the important initiative that aims to offer support and hope in dealing with dementia sufferers and their families. Weekly Mirror reports that the medical director and chief physician of the neurological clinic, Professor Dr. Matthias Strittmatter, emphasized the growing public interest in dementia.
“Ten years ago, only 200 scientists were present at an international Alzheimer’s conference, while 400 laypeople took part in a later lecture,” says Strittmatter. This is a sign that the issue of dementia is now affecting many people. A central finding of the day of action is the importance of affection and acceptance for those who are sick - a message that was put into practice in the day's diverse activities.
Action day offers space for exchange
The day of action attracted numerous visitors. Merzig nursing students and occupational therapy students made a decisive contribution to the success of the event, which featured a bundle of activities. Particularly noteworthy is the memorial tree that was created for visitors and will be set up in the clinic. There was also a waffle sale and a popcorn machine, and guests could take part in touch and smell stations or learn about a timeline that showed historical events surrounding dementia.
The importance of such events is also underpinned by current medical developments. A new drug to slow Alzheimer's dementia has been on the market since the beginning of September, but it is not suitable for all patients. Medical Tribune explains that β-amyloid plaques play a central role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. The monoclonal amyloid-β antibody aducanumab, which was approved in the USA in 2021 but was rarely prescribed due to contradictory study data, is considered a breakthrough in treatment.
New drug horizon
However, there is also hope in exploration. The new antibody Lecanemab, which has been approved in the EU since April 2025 and available in Germany since September 1, 2025, could represent a new treatment option. Loud Alzheimer's research The antibodies bind to harmful amyloid beta proteins in the brain and promote their breakdown. However, it should be noted that these forms of therapy do not represent a definitive cure, but are important advances in research into the disease. Concerns about possible side effects, such as cerebral hemorrhage in patients treated with lecanemab or donanemab, raise questions about safety and effectiveness.
In addition, research into antibody drugs is a step towards a better understanding of Alzheimer's. Recent research suggests that changes in the brain can occur up to 20 years before the first symptoms, which is why combination therapies are needed to comprehensively address the complex disease mechanisms.
The combination of numerous aspects, from emotional care to practical community actions to groundbreaking medical developments, shows how important it is to continue to raise awareness of dementia and to offer those affected and their families the necessary support. In Merzig, awareness and acceptance of the concerns of dementia sufferers will be further promoted in the future.