In recognition of the shared health and social challenges associated with mental ill health, the Commission has adopted a Communication on a European Initiative on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. The Commisison has also produced a Proposal for a Council Recommendation on measures to combat neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s.
These concrete proposals, published on 22 July 2009, represent a call for coordinated European action to ensure efficient prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for those affected. In addition, Member States are invited to pool their resources and better coordinate their research efforts in the field of neurodegenerative diseases.
There are currently over seven million Europeans living with Alzheimer’s disease and other related disorders. This number is predicted to double over the next twenty years. The Commission considers it vital to plan, invest and cooperate in order to control the social costs of these diseases as well as to offer the best possible care and support to the millions of sufferers and their families.
EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said: “Losing mental capacity to dementia is not just a normal part of getting older. As the European population ages, we must work together to better understand and prevent these conditions. We must show our solidarity with people with dementia by sharing best practice in caring for them and their rights and dignity.”
The objective of this European initiative aims to tackle the main problems posed by Alzheimer’s disease and dementias by:
– acting early to diagnose dementia and to reduce the risk of dementia in the first place;
– improving research coordination between EU countries;
– sharing of best practice and
– providing a forum to reflect on the rights, autonomy and dignity of patients.
Background
Due to the increasing lifespan and the decreasing ratio of working to retired populations, the social and economic burden of neurodegenerative diseases is growing. In 2005, the total direct and informal care costs of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias were estimated at €130billion in the EU27 (€21 000 per patient); 56% of this costs was informal care. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia in the European Union (about 70% of cases) followed by vascular dementia (just under 30%).
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are classified as neurodegenerative diseases. At European level, the European Parliament adopted resolutions in 1996 and 1998 and the Commission’s 2007 EU health strategy ‘Together for Health’ identifies the need to better understand neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s in the context of ageing. In 2008, the Council called on the Commission to produce a plan of action to tackle neurodegenerative diseases and particularly Alzheimer’s. The Commission funds research projects on Alzheimer’s and ND diseases through the 7th Research Framework Programme.
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For more information
European Pact for Mental Health and Well-Being
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