Support Alzheimer Europe and the Helsinki Manifesto

Following the European Parliament elections which took place last month, and as the new European legislative term begins, Alzheimer Europe is re-issuing an urgent call to European and national organisations and other entities to endorse the “Helsinki Manifesto”. This Manifesto outlines the current situation in relation to dementia across Europe and makes specific demands for the European Union (EU), as well as for national governments.

The Helsinki Manifesto highlights World Health Organization (WHO) figures which show that dementia is the third leading cause of mortality in Europe and the seventh globally, with a societal cost in Europe estimated to be EUR 392 billion in 2019. Additionally, it points out that by 2025, 9.1 million people will be living with dementia in the European Union (EU), rising to 14.3 million in 2050.

The Manifesto, which will be the basis of Alzheimer Europe’s campaign work in the coming years,  is divided into the following policy areas:

• Health
• Research
• Disability and social rights
• Support for informal carers.

Under each policy area, a brief rationale for action is outlined, followed by a number of specific demands for European and national decisions-makers, including:

• Invest in improvements to support timely diagnosis, including access to imaging, biomarker testing and new treatment options
• Increase the funding allocated for dementia research, proportionate to its societal cost, bringing the total funding to at least the level of other non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
• Prioritise dementia in future health programmes, with dedicated funding for projects and actions, in line with other NCDs (e.g. cancer)
• Develop and implement a European Dementia Action Plan, to coordinate efforts and programmes across the domains of health, research and social affairs.

European and national organisations with a mutual interest in these policy areas are invited to endorse the Helsinki Manifesto. If your organisation would like to endorse the Helsinki Manifesto, please send an email to info@alzheimer-europe.org

Jean Georges, Executive Director of Alzheimer Europe, said: “With the number of people living with dementia expected to substantially increase in the coming years, as well as the considerable societal costs associated, it is time for European decision-makers to prioritise dementia and dedicate the resources needed to address it across the domains of health, research, disability rights and support for informal carers. Our Helsinki Manifesto and associated campaign not only highlight the scale of the challenge presented by dementia but also offer concrete steps for how European decision-makers can take decisive action in the coming years. We encourage organisations to support the Manifesto, today and help us make dementia a European priority!”