Introduction
The Strategic Plan outlines the core priorities of Alzheimer Europe.
The Alzheimer Europe Strategic Plan (2026-2030) was adopted by the Annual General Meeting on 24 November 2025.
The plan builds on the success of the organisation’s “Strategic Plan 2021-2025” whilst expanding some of the organisation’s key strategic objectives.
Our values
Alzheimer Europe and its members fully commit to promoting the rights, dignity and autonomy of people living with dementia. These rights are universal, and guaranteed in the European Convention of Human Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Alzheimer Europe and its member organisations affirm that every person living with dementia has:
- The right to a timely diagnosis;
- The right to access quality post diagnostic support;
- The right to person-centred, coordinated, quality care throughout their life;
- The right to equitable access to treatments and therapeutic interventions;
- The right to be respected as an individual in their community.
Our mission
Alzheimer Europe sees its mission as changing perceptions, policy and practice in order to improve the lives of people affected by dementia.
Our strategic objectives
Objective 1: Meaningfully involve people affected by dementia
Alzheimer Europe will
Ensure people with dementia are actively involved in governance, policy advocacy and research ("nothing about us without us")
Develop and support the European Working Group of People with Dementia and European Dementia Carers Working Group
Support national Alzheimer associations interested in setting up national working groups of people with dementia and their families and carers
Through Public Involvement, ensure that people affected by dementia are meaningfully involved in advocacy and research
Provide a platform to people affected by dementia at the Annual Conference and other meetings and activities
Collaborate with Alzheimer Europe Foundation to provide bursaries to people with dementia to attend the Annual Conference
Continue the Public Involvement activities in support of EU-funded research projects
Objective 2: Challenge stigma and promote public awareness of dementia
Alzheimer Europe will
Carry out a survey of people with dementia and their carers on their experiences of stigma, including experienced, anticipated and structural discrimination
Promote the guide developed by the EWGPWD on how to communicate and use non-stigmatising, respectful and inclusive language
Present the Alzheimer Europe Anti-Stigma Award for an outstanding initiative addressing the stigma and perceptions of dementia
Promote the continued development of dementia-inclusive initiatives
Showcase examples of people living well with different types of dementia and at different stages of the disease
Objective 3: Advance the human rights of people affected by dementia
Alzheimer Europe will
Campaign for the recognition of dementia as a disability
Continue to promote a rights-based and ethical approach to dementia
Advocate for the application of the principles enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to people affected by dementia
Continue membership of and collaboration with the European Disability Forum
Focus on legal issues and update report on legal capacity and decision making
Campaign for the ratification of the Hague Convention for the International Protection of Adults
Contribute to the European Fundamental Rights Platform
Objective 4: Champion diversity, inclusion and intersectionality
Alzheimer Europe will
Strive to include people with all types of dementia in the organisation’s activities and meetings
Advocate on the importance of inclusiveness in the context of dementia care, policy and research
Explore how to involve underrepresented groups (minority ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ people, socioeconomically disadvantaged groups) in Alzheimer Europe’s activities, conferences, meetings and projects
Identify ways of improving the involvement of underrepresented groups in the EWGPWD, EDCWG and Public Involvement Pool
Develop active collaborations with European networks representing people currently underrepresented in AE activities
Promote an inclusive approach to dementia research involving people from all social, ethnic and different minority groups as participants
Advocate for the inclusion of people affected by dementia in funding, ethics and other review boards
Explore the intersection between dementia and other types of disabilities (e.g. deaf people, people with visual impairments, people with Down syndrome)
Objective 5: Make dementia a priority of European and national policies on disability, health, social affairs and research
Alzheimer Europe will
Monitor and promote the development, adoption and implementation of well-resourced national dementia strategies and advocate for action where no plan exists
Campaign for the development of a European Dementia Strategy, as well as the integration of dementia into broader EU and national framework programmes (disability programmes, neurodegenerative diseases, non-communicable diseases, ageing policies)
Compare dementia policies and present the results in Dementia in Europe Yearbooks
Campaign on new Dementia Manifesto during 2029 European Parliament elections
Further develop European Alzheimer’s Alliance with Members of the European Parliament from all EU Member States and all political groups and European Group of Governmental Experts on Dementia, bringing together national government officials in charge of dementia policies
Collaborate as a non-state actor with WHO Europe and promote dementia and brain health as priorities at the European level of the World Health Organization
Monitor development and implementation of national dementia strategies
Develop broader strategic alliance with European organisations of health and social care professionals and researchers
Objective 6: Foster dementia research and innovation
Alzheimer Europe will
Campaign for increased funding for dementia research at EU and national level and for greater collaboration between European countries in the field of research
Provide updates on scientific developments on all aspects of dementia research in its newsletter and on its website
Organise Annual Conferences giving researchers the opportunity to present scientific findings on all aspects of dementia research
Enhance the existing collaboration with the INTERDEM network, the European Alzheimer’s Disease Consortium, the European Academy of Neurology and other organisations of researchers in the field of dementia
Represent the views of people with or at risk of developing dementia and their families and carers in European research projects
Contribute to the discussion of ethical, societal and policy issues raised by EU research projects
Disseminate information on European projects to member organisations and the general public, via its conferences, newsletters and website
Continue involvement with European Medicines Agency as an accredited patient organisation and an active member of the Patients’ and Consumers’ Working Party
Further develop its Clinical Trials Watch providing easy-to-understand information on all phase II and III clinical trials being conducted in a European country
Objective 7: Promote equal access to quality diagnosis, treatment, care and support
Alzheimer Europe will
Provide regular updates of its European Dementia Monitor benchmarking and comparing dementia policies and ranking countries’ responses to dementia
Monitor the adoption of new treatments and biomarkers in national care pathways and campaign for equal access to innovative treatments and diagnostics in all European countries
Collaborate with industry partners on promoting health system readiness of European countries for innovative treatments and care approaches
Identify national trends with regards to staff shortages and work force development
Contribute to the development of guidelines on the treatment and management of Alzheimer’s dementia and other types of dementia
Objective 8: Raise awareness of brain health and prevention
Alzheimer Europe will
Campaign for the promotion of brain health and dementia prevention as priorities of European and national research programmes
Include people at risk of developing dementia in activities and meetings and identify ways of assessing their views and experiences through face-to-face panels and online mechanisms and surveys
Provide information for people interested in reducing their risks of developing dementia by addressing modifiable risk factors through the life course
Educate the general public about the brain changes which can be identified prior to the development of symptoms
Map initiatives at national level that include people at risk of dementia and people with MCI in the activities of national Alzheimer’s associations
Identify obstacles and barriers to timely diagnosis and promote clinical pathways ensuring both timely diagnosis of people with mild cognitive impairment and dementia and support of people at risk of developing dementia
Collaborate with WHO and WHO Europe on risk reduction and prevention strategies
Participate in EU-funded research programmes on brain health and prevention
Objective 9: Support national Alzheimer’s associations and build a strong united movement
Alzheimer Europe will
Continue with the Alzheimer’s Association Academy as a series of in-person and online capacity-building workshops on issues identified as priorities by national Alzheimer associations
Carry out a mapping exercise of the staff, finances and services of national Alzheimer’s associations
Identify opportunities for joint awareness raising activities around World Alzheimer’s Day and Brain Awareness Week
Promote the activities of national member organisations through social media activities, monthly email newsletter, website and the Annual Conference
Provide one free registration and registrations at reduced cost to each member organisation of Alzheimer Europe Conferences
Expand membership to all countries of the European Union with a view to reaching all countries belonging to the European region of the World Health Organisation
Objective 10: Ensure financial and organisational sustainability
Alzheimer Europe will
Secure continued funding via operating grants through the European Union’s disability or health programmes
Continue to develop the association’s portfolio of EU-funded research projects
Carry out specific activities with the support of corporate sponsors and partners in full transparency and in line with the association’s values and independence
Develop a business model for its Annual Conferences guaranteeing a financial return whilst continuing to provide reasonably priced registration rates with special discounts for people with dementia, carers, students and participants from countries whose gross national income (GNI) per inhabitant is less than 90% of the European Union average
Further diversify the organisation’s funding through a mix of private and public contributions, as well as support from its member organisations
Collaborate with Alzheimer Europe Foundation to support specific activities, such as bursaries for the Annual Conference, the anti-stigma award or other initiatives in line with the foundation’s objectives
Develop robust governance structures and carry out a review of the association’s statutes and rules and regulations
Monitor progress of the strategic objectives and annual work plans with clear indicators and evaluation tools