On Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 October, the European Working Group of People with Dementia (EWGPWD) and the European Dementia Carers Working Group (EDCWG) travelled to Dublin (Ireland) for in-person meetings, prior to the 36th Alzheimer Europe Conference (36AEC). During the meetings members discussed key issues currently being addressed through Alzheimer Europe’s project and operating grant work.
On day one, the EWGPWD reviewed Alzheimer Europe’s 2026 Yearbook which focuses on national dementia strategies and policies across Europe. The group also contributed to the DEMCAPS project (Dementia care and psychosocial support interventions estimating health-economic impact to support access and implementation in practice), reflected upon dementia as a disability and provided feedback on the ‘Journey Companion App’, which is being developed in the AI4HOPE (Artificial Intelligence Based Health, Optimism, Purpose, and Endurance in Palliative Care for Dementia) project. On day two members received feedback from researchers on an ongoing project focused on comorbidities, and they contributed their perspectives on advanced dementia.
Members of the EDCWG similarly discussed the pending Yearbook, provided their reflections on dementia as a disability and advanced dementia, and supported AI4Hope researchers progress the Journey Companion App. Their views on two European projects, ENSURED (Empowering needs-based social health and inclusive care for rarer dementias in moderate to advanced stage) and PREDICTOM (Prediction of Neurodegenerative Disease using an AI driven Screening Platform), were also sought.
The pre-conference meetings were highly productive, and all parties left with new insights and ideas to drive change in their respective fields.
