Highlights of this issue include interviews with the Executive members of the European Alzheimer's Alliance, a review of the 2009 Dementia in Europe Yearbook on healthcare decision making in Europe for people with dementia, updates on the development of national plans in Malta, Cyprus and Portugal, challenges faced by people with dementia in Finland, a carer's account of living with dementia in Spain, a reflection of the work of the Greek Association of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders as well as an indepth interview with Professor Philippe Amouyel, the Chair of the Management Board of the Joint Programming Inititative of Neurodegenerative diseases.