Facing the future: Developing an EU strategy on Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's, a degenerative disease that slowly and progressively impairs memory, thinking and judgment, is the most common cause of dementia in the European Union. Affecting one in 20 people over 65 and one in five over 80, there are an estimated seven million dementia sufferers across Europe, of which between 50 and 70 per cent are thought to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Meanwhile, a recent poll commissioned by the Harvard school of public health and Alzheimer Europe found that in the majority of countries surveyed, Alzheimer's disease was the second biggest health fear after cancer. As life expectancy increases in the EU, the number of Europeans suffering from Alzheimer's disease and related disorders will double over the next 20 years, unless decisive action is taken at national and European levels.

Previous attempts to tackle Alzheimer's disease at national level within the EU have been characterised by fragmented action and uneven policies. However, since 2008, EU leaders took the decision to pool their resources and coordinate their actions to ensure better research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for those affected.

The European commission's communication and the European Parliament Written Declaration on Alzheimer disease represent fundamental steps on the road towards developing specific EU proposals designed to 'link up' existing policies and initiatives aimed at tackling dementia.

On the occasion of the World Alzheimer’s Day, the Parliament Magazine discussion, hosted by Frédérique Ries MEP, and held in association with Sanofi, focused on how the four key objectives of the EU's strategy on Alzheimer's disease ; early diagnosis, improved research conditions, sharing best practive and respecting the rights of people living with the disease, are evolving. The event also discussed what, if any, additional measures may be needed.

Click here to view photos from the event.

Click here to view an online Parliament Magazine article from the event.

Presentations: Click on the speaker's name to view their presentation

• Enda Connolly, CEO of the Health Research Board, Ireland, and Member of the Joint Programme in Neurodegenerative Diseases Executive Board
• Thomas Rooney, Head Translational Research Neurodegenerative Diseases Group, TSU Aging, Sanofi
• Jean Georges, Executive Director, Alzheimer Europe
• Christine Barr, Project Manager, ALCOVE and Bénédicte Gombault, ALCOVE WP7 leader, Fondation du Roi Baudouin