On 9 December, AD-RIDDLE partners joined leading figures from the European dementia community at the European Parliament on the occasion of the first European Dementia Day. The day’s key event, a Lunch Debate entitled “Dementia as a Research Priority”, brought together over 100 participants, including Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), representatives from national Alzheimer associations, people with lived experience of dementia, and research policymakers. Discussions emphasised the importance of collaborative approaches in tackling the challenges posed by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Niklas Blomberg, Executive Director of the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), showcased how public-private partnerships are transforming dementia research. He highlighted several groundbreaking projects, including AD-RIDDLE, the European Platform for Neurodegenerative Diseases (EPND), IHI-PROMINENT, and PREDICTOM, which are advancing patient-centered innovations in neurodegenerative disease research. With EPND enabling seamless data sharing and analysis, and other initiatives contributing complementary tools and approaches, projects like AD-RIDDLE are well-positioned to deliver scalable, impactful solutions for dementia prevention, diagnosis, and care.
Wiesje van der Flier (Amsterdam UMC), who leads AD-RIDDLE’s digital cognitive assessment workstream, provided insights into the project’s contributions to the field. She detailed how initiatives like ABOARD, WW-FINGERS and AD-RIDDLE are accelerating progress in early diagnosis, risk prediction, and tailored treatment strategies. "These innovations are a significant step towards personalised prevention and care, ensuring that interventions are designed to meet the specific needs of individuals," she noted.
In addition to the parliamentary discussions, AD-RIDDLE partner Francesca Mangialasche (Karolinska Institutet and Fingers Brain Health Institute) presented AD-RIDDLE in a workshop with over 20 European Alzheimer associations. This session provided a valuable opportunity to obtain feedback on AD-RIDDLE’s modular toolbox platform, which integrates pharmacological and lifestyle interventions. The workshop also highlighted the importance of public involvement activities in shaping tools that are practical, effective, and aligned with the needs of people living with or at risk of Alzheimer’s disease. https://www.ad-riddle.org/