On 15 and 16 October 2026, more than 700 participants gathered in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, for the 13th Congress of the German Alzheimer Society (DAlzG), held under the theme "Dementia: Shaping the Future Together." People living with dementia, family caregivers, professionals, and researchers came together to discuss current developments, challenges, and future perspectives regarding dementia.
In his opening remarks, Swen Staack, Chair of the DAlzG, emphasized the importance of taking a stand—advocating for human diversity, an inclusive society, and standing up for those in vulnerable situations, while ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate in society.
Members of the DAlzG’s advisory board, "Living with Dementia," provided a powerful demonstration of how people can lead active, self-determined lives while living with dementia. Their shared motto: "Giving up is not an option."
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Andreas Büscher pointed out that 86 percent of people in need of long-term care in Germany are looked after at home; he called for better coordination between professional care services and family caregiving.
The topics covered at the congress ranged from early diagnosis and new therapeutic approaches—including those for rare forms of dementia—to national and regional dementia strategies, the social inclusion of people living with dementia, and support for their family caregivers. Once again, the congress provided ample opportunity for networking. Participants were able to take away concrete ideas for their work in their own communities, and in many cases, the foundations were laid for new collaborative projects.
At the same time, it became clear that the need for support among people living with dementia and their families remains, in many areas, far from being met. Some pioneering projects are funded exclusively through donations, as there is no state support available for them.
The nationwide congress has been organised by the German Alzheimer Society every two years since 1997, with the event taking place at different locations across Germany.
