Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (AD) affect 7 million Europeans and 20 million family carers. These numbers will double between now and 2040. September 2012 marks the first global World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign to raise awareness and challenge stigma. The theme of this year is ‘Dementia, Living together’.
Given its high prevalence, cost and profound impact on society, dementia is an EU public health priority. Improving care and quality of life for people living with AD and their carers are urgent priorities as well as limiting the burden of the loss of autonomy and encouraging citizen and intergenerational solidarity.
The Joint Action ALCOVE's objective is to share dementia-related knowledge in public health, the organisation of care, clinical care, and ethics. This Joint Action is supported by Member States, health professionals and patient associations, and complements other EU initiatives on dementia and healthy aging.
In March 2013, ALCOVE’s 19 European countries will present their conclusions with knowledge that could benefit each Member State. The ALCOVE toolbox and its benchmarks will facilitate the implementation of public health actions including antipsychotic risk prevention.
As our societies and solidarity systems face the challenge of dementia, the pooling of knowledge and experiences is crucial. European mobilisation around dementia is an expression of this need and mutual interest.
