On 6 October 2025, Alzheimer Europe published a special Brain Health Supplement, complementing the 49th edition of its Dementia in Europe Magazine. The Supplement examines dementia risk reduction and prevention from a European perspective, covering primary, secondary and tertiary prevention and underlining the importance of action across the life course and across all stages of dementia.
The opening article features an overview of the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care, with perspectives from Kevin Quaid (Chairperson of the European Working Group of People with Dementia) and Trevor Salomon (Chairperson of the European Dementia Carers Working Group). The Supplement also includes new data on the distribution of modifiable risk factors for dementia across Europe, based on analyses carried out within the AD-RIDDLE project as part of a wider policy and practice review led by Alzheimer Europe. These analyses underline the substantial potential for risk reduction and prevention across Europe, emphasising the continued need for interventions on individual and societal levels.
A section on research, implementation and healthcare system preparedness starts with an overview of the FINGER study, a landmark clinical trial that showed how multi-modal interventions can improve brain health and prevent cognitive decline. Perspectives from the Multi-MeMo and Lethe projects illustrate how research projects are advancing the science of dementia prevention. We also examine how healthcare systems can be prepared to support brain health more effectively throughout the life course and across all stages of dementia. The supplement highlights opportunities to integrate new prevention tools and approaches into care, and points to EU-level initiatives that seek to overcome barriers to system preparedness.
The final section focuses on advancing brain health policy in Europe. It stresses the need to embed prevention and risk reduction not only in national dementia strategies, but also in wider European policy frameworks. Examples from national Alzheimer’s associations in Armenia, Scotland, Netherlands and Switzerland show how prevention is already being addressed in practice, while a perspective from the World Health Organization provides a global context.
The closing article outlines the Alzheimer Europe position on risk disclosure, calling for open, honest, empathetic and compassionate disclosure of dementia risk in both research and clinical practice.
The Special Supplement on Brain Health can be downloaded, here: https://bit.ly/Brain_Health_Supplement