In recent weeks, Portugal has seen a convergence of public policy advancements on dementia across local, regional and national levels – a positive sign of growing political momentum around this public health priority, in the country.
At the local level, the municipality of Oeiras has established a pioneering protocol, the result of a partnership with Alzheimer Portugal, and focused on the prevention of - and response to - the disappearance of people with dementia. The initiative reflects an increasing recognition among local authorities that dementia requires tailored community-based action, and for that to happen, this protocol is clearly necessary, to reinforce the articulation between local entities and promoting information around the theme, having foreseen the implementation of measures in this regard (Municipality of Oeiras, 2026).
At the regional level, the Azorean Parliament has approved a resolution proposed by the Azorean Socialist Party to strengthen the response to Alzheimer's disease and other dementias across the archipelago. The resolution project comes from a place of need for epidemiological data, and the initiative is structured around four core axes: strengthening data collection, supporting scientific research in partnership with the University of the Azores, improving coordination between the health system, the social sector and associations, and promoting awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and increase health literacy (PS Açores, 2026).
At the national level, the recent approval of the governance model for the National Health Plan for Dementia marks a decisive step forward. Although the recent restructuring of the National Health Service (SNS) led to some administrative delays, this new dispatch is fundamental to finally bringing the Plan to life. A key feature of this model is the decentralisation of responsibilities to the 39 Local Health Units (ULS). Replacing the previous five Regional Health Administrations (ARS), these ULS units, which are integrated bodies covering both primary and hospital care, will now ensure that implementation will be properly monitored at the local level across the country (Ministry of Health, 2026).
Taken together, these three developments illustrate how dementia is moving up the political agenda in Portugal, with concrete action taking shape from the municipality to the national government.
