In 2002, Alzheimer Europe:
- started a European Commission funded project aimed at developing a database with specific information on “rare forms of dementia”,
- participated in a survey on the conditions of the disclosure of a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease highlighting the considerable delay between the appearance of symptoms and a diagnosis and the lack of information provided by health professional when disclosing a diagnosis,
- further developed its Intranet with the support of the Pfizer Foundation,
- contributed to the European Parliament discussions on the review of the pharmaceutical legislation by stressing the information needs of people with dementia and their carers on new and available treatment options,
- forwarded its formal position on the Draft Additional Protocol on Biomedical Research to the Council of Europe questioning the usefulness of allowing research with people with dementia without that research having a possible benefit for the research participant,
- developed its ties with the European Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium and contributed to its proposal to create a Center of Excellence under the sixth research framework programme,
- continued as an active member of the European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA) and saw its Executive Director elected as the EFNA Secretary General,
- contributed actively to the preparatory meetings to create a European Patients’ Forum,
- collaborated with other patient organisation in the think tank of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations,
- organised with Stichting Alzheimer Nederland a successful conference on “Commitment to care” in Maastricht (2 to 4 June 2002),
- adopted a new business plan for the organisation providing a definition of the core objectives and underlying philosophy of the organisation, as well as clear priorities for the next five years.