Alzheimer Europe welcomed delegates representing 25 countries and national associations to its Public Affairs meeting on 2 and 3 December in Brussels (Belgium). The agenda covered ongoing Alzheimer Europe initiatives and projects carried out during the second half of 2025.
Moderated by Alzheimer Europe Chairperson Maria do Rosário Zincke dos Reis (Portugal), the first session on 2 December opened with “National dementia strategies”. Lukas Duffner, Project Officer, presented findings from the AD-RIDDLE project through an analysis of national dementia strategies across Europe. Policy Officer Owen Miller then introduced the “Dementia in Europe Yearbook 2025: Transport and access to cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport” publication, which contains current national strategies, dementia-specific policies or programmes, and recommendations.
The focus then shifted to updating the report on dementia prevalence in Europe. Owen Miller and Lukas Duffner outlined the methodology and shared preliminary findings, followed by guidance on communicating results to the media, national associations and the public. Project Officer Chris Bintener demonstrated the interactive graphics and maps available on the Alzheimer Europe website, allowing users to view prevalence in Europe by age or sex, along with projections. Communications Officer Margarita Reyes then presented the communication plan, and implementation timeline for the 28 January launch.
An information meeting with Roche representatives also took place, who highlighted the company’s commitment to Alzheimer’s disease, its neuroscience strategy, and updates on late-stage programmes, including the Traveller and Trontier I & II studies. The meeting also focused on the Preventron study, covering its design, participant identification and disclosure approach, and discussion among participants.
The second meeting day on 3 December focused on advancements in Alzheimer’s disease research and access to care. Angela Bradshaw, Director for Research, opened the meeting with the topic “New treatments for Alzheimer’s disease”, outlining the pathway from European marketing authorisation to access for people with early Alzheimer’s disease. This was followed by contributions from national Alzheimer’s associations on national access programmes and health technology assessment. Angela Bradshaw and Dianne Gove, Director for Public Involvement and Ethics, then presented the expectations and views of people living with dementia regarding new treatments.
The second part of the meeting focused on clinical trials to prevent progression to symptomatic stages. Here, Public Involvement Lead Ana Diaz shared results from focus group discussions on preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, followed by Executive Director Jean Georges, who presented learnings from the Value of knowing survey and invited members of national organisations to share their feedback and exchange their previous experiences with engaging the public for participation.
