On 5 December 2025, Spain’s Congress of Deputies hosted an important event marking the first anniversary of the Memory Pact (“Pacto por el Recuerdo”), structured around a day of constructive dialogue between all stakeholders involved in the fight against Alzheimer's disease, gathered at four round table meetings. The event, organised by the Spanish Confederation of Alzheimer’s and other Dementias (CEAFA), aimed to call for action and immediate measures to advance the real fight against Alzheimer’s. The second secretary of the Health Commission, Rafael Belmonte, was responsible for the institutional opening.
Following him, José Luis Nogueira, Secretary of the Board of the Queen Sofia Foundation, addressed attendees to emphasise that “when we all walk together against Alzheimer's, we move forward. And in the direction of this progress, the people and families affected by this disease must play a leading role.” Meanwhile, Mariló Almagro, President of CEAFA, closed the opening ceremony, describing the update of the Comprehensive Plan for Alzheimer's and Other Dementias as “essential” and requesting “sufficient budgetary resources to make it viable.” “Those responsible for designing and implementing health policies, both at the regional and national levels, have in their hands the ability and responsibility to transform the lives of millions of people,” stressed the president of CEAFA.
The Memory Pact outlines three points: an official census of Alzheimer's patients; early diagnosis to detect the disease in its early stages and equitable access to the best pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments and care. During its first year, various events were held to raise awareness of it, both among scientific communities and wider society. The first roundtable, entitled “Early diagnosis and early care: a paradigm shift in Alzheimer's”, and moderated by the director of CEAFA, Jesús Rodrigo, featured the participation of the Regional Minister for Social Policy and Equality of the Xunta de Galicia, Fabiola García Martínez, and the Coordinator of the Neurodegenerative Diseases Strategy of the Balearic Islands, Ana Espino. The Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN) and the Spanish Society of Neurological Nursing (SEDENE) also participated. In addition, Pascual Sánchez, Secretary of the Behavior and Dementia Study Group of the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), advocated the use of biomarkers for all patients to achieve early diagnosis.
“Research and therapeutic innovation: needs and solutions” was the title of the second roundtable, moderated by Ms Almagro, with the participation of Eva Cuartero, coordinator of the Andalusian Plan for Alzheimer's and other Dementias, and representatives from the CIEN Foundation, SEN, the Queen Sofia Foundation, and CRE Alzheimer. Following this, and passing the halfway point of the event, the third roundtable addressed “Care pathway and multidisciplinary approach: a joint perspective”. The director of CEAFA was responsible for moderating the representatives from the Regional Ministry of Health of the Community of Madrid, the Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SEGG), the Spanish Society of Psychogeriatrics (SEPG), the Spanish Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health (SEPSM), and the Spanish Society of General Practitioners and Family Doctors (SEMG).
The final roundtable, “Political and legislative commitment to Alzheimer's”, was moderated by Mr Rodrigo and featured the participation of the People's Party (PP) Health spokesperson in the Congress of Deputies, Elvira Velasco; the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) Deputy Health spokesperson in the Congress of Deputies, María Sainz; the Vox Parliamentary Group's Health spokesperson, David García; and the Sumar Parliamentary Group's Health spokesperson, Alda Recas. Additionally, Rafael Belmonte launched a commitment by the Chamber to help Alzheimer's patients. Finally, Fabiola García Martínez, highlighted the need to “be more proactive and start working with the person from the onset of dementia.”
CEAFA also took advantage of this first anniversary of the Memory Pact to present the Guardians of MEMORY awards to those individuals and institutions whose commitment, dedication, and sensitivity help keep alive the memory of people with Alzheimer's and provide constant support to families in their daily lives. The journalist María Llapart; the Health spokespersons from the different parliamentary groups in Congress; the president of the Senate, Pedro Rollán; the Health Commission of the Balearic Parliament; the president of the Health Commission of the Andalusian Parliament; and the PP Health spokesperson in the Madrid Assembly are the recipients of the Guardians of MEMORY awards. The Memory Pact has already been endorsed by the SEPG, SEMG, SEN, SEPSM, SEGG, SEMERGEN, the CIEN Foundation, and the Queen Sofia Foundation. Additionally, 25 entities and over 1.500 people have joined. Find out more about the Memory Pact, here:
