The International Congress on Neurodegenerative Diseases will be held from 15 to 18 September in the city of Elche.

• It will feature the participation of world-renowned researchers in neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, Huntington's, Lewy bodies, etc.).

Elche, 14 July 2025. From 15 to 18 September, Elche will host the International Congress on Neurodegenerative Diseases, which will bring together world-renowned researchers. On 15 September, the official celebration of World Alzheimer's Day —commemorated on 21 September— will take place, with the participation of the mayor of Elche, Mr Pablo Ruz, and other institutional authorities, as part of the inauguration of the congress.

This prestigious annual event, organised jointly by the Reina Sofia Foundation, the Centre for Research on Neurological Diseases (CIEN), Elche City Council and the Spanish Society of Neurology, will offer a unique platform for sharing the latest advances in research and treatment of these diseases.

With this conference, the Reina Sofia Foundation reinforces its firm commitment to research into Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases and to improving the quality of life of those affected, which is the main strategic focus of its social work. Thus, in 2024, the Foundation chaired by Her Majesty Queen Sofía doubled the resources allocated to charitable and social actions, reaching a total of 4,239,467 euros, of which 3,859,074 have been invested in research projects focused on Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

An international benchmark event

World-renowned experts, researchers and health professionals will gather at this four-day event, which seeks not only to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences, but also to boost research and raise awareness in society about the reality of these diseases.

The aim of the summit is to share the advances being made in two distinct but complementary areas: advances in the field of therapies for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases and interventions in the social and healthcare field. Each of these fields will have a programme of conferences and presentations, within a translational model in which research and care are conceived in an integrated manner.

For the mayor of Elche, hosting this international summit on Alzheimer's disease is a great opportunity for the city. ‘We are very happy and excited about this conference, which will put Elche on the map of international meetings. But above all, because it represents an excellent opportunity to continue advancing in the fight against a disease that affects us all,’ he said.

For her part, the manager of CIEN, María Ángeles Pérez, took the opportunity to thank the mayor and the government team for their involvement in the organisation of this conference and for the hospitality they have shown at all times. She also highlighted the support of the two main sponsors, Novo Nordisk and ESTEVE, whose commitment has been essential in making this international meeting possible.

• Novo Nordisk emphasised the importance of supporting initiatives that contribute to improving understanding of Alzheimer's disease, a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and may be perceived as part of normal ageing in its early stages.
• For its part, ESTEVE highlighted the role of this conference as a meeting point to promote scientific progress in neurodegenerative diseases.

In addition, Dr Pascual Sánchez-Juan, scientific director of CIEN, highlighted the fact that a conference is being dedicated to therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, which would have been unthinkable a few years ago and is a sign of the dynamism and promising advances in this field of research. We are fortunate to have some of the world's leading experts who will talk about therapies that are being evaluated in clinical trials, and we will delve into the mechanisms that make them potentially capable of modifying the course of these diseases.

The holding of this conference in Elche reinforces the joint commitment to advancing research and improving care for people affected by neurodegenerative diseases. Collaboration between scientists, professionals and the Elche community will be essential to successfully address the challenges posed by this growing public health problem.