Issue 8 highlights include: Information on how dementia is being addressed at the European level (by the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, László Andor), a look at how the situation is for people with dementia in Italy (by Patrizia Toia, MEP (Italy), a moving account of the experience of living with dementia in Italy by Alzheimer Uniti and Paola, who has dementia, consideration of the work carried out by national associations to secure the development of a national dementia plan in Greece and in Ireland, a paper on how cooperation and collaboration between national and European organisations can be mutually beneficial, information on European activities on long-term care: the subject of Alzheimer Europe’s lunch debate hosted by Marina Yannakoudakis, MEP (UK), an update on the PharmaCog project as well as information on the Innovative Medicines Initiative, a summary of the 2011 Romanian Alzheimer Conference and updates on recent policy developments, scientific news and national Alzheimer associations current campaigns.