Dementia concerns us all. Now is the time to act.
On 1 September, at the start of World Alzheimer’s Month, the Panhellenic Federation of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders launched a call for signatures to promote early diagnosis, equal access to modern treatments and better quality of life for people living with dementia and their families.
Dementia is one of the major public health challenges of the 21st century in Europe and in Greece, more than 200,000 people are estimated to be living with dementia, while hundreds of thousands of family members provide daily care, often without adequate support.
Scientific progress is changing the landscape of dementia diagnosis and treatment. New biomarkers, including cerebrospinal fluid tests, amyloid and tau PET imaging, and emerging blood-based biomarkers such as p-tau217 and amyloid-beta 1-42, can support earlier and more accurate diagnosis. At the same time, new treatments may slow disease progression in eligible patients diagnosed at an early stage.
Early diagnosis can provide earlier access to appropriate treatment, better care planning, longer preservation of independence and improved quality of life for both individuals and their families.
Across Europe, health systems are adapting to these developments by expanding access to modern diagnostic tools, preparing for new treatments, strengthening support for family caregivers and developing national dementia strategies. Greece should also ensure that its citizens can benefit equally from these advances.
The campaign calls for five key actions:
reimbursement of modern diagnostic tests through the Greek National Health Insurance Organization
equitable access to newly approved treatments for eligible patients
financial and practical support for family caregivers
adoption of a comprehensive legal framework protecting the rights of people with dementia and their caregivers, and
the development of Memory Clinics throughout the country, ensuring access to assessment and support regardless of where people live.
Early diagnosis is no longer simply a medical goal. It is an essential step toward dignity, autonomy, informed choices and better care. During September, 2,544 electronic signatures and 1,052 handwritten signatures were collected. Greece has the opportunity to act now and ensure that advances in science translate into meaningful support for every person affected by dementia.
Sign here: https://www.alzheimer-federation.gr/index.php/en/component/rsform/form/3-no-title?Itemid=101
