According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dementia is the third leading cause of mortality in Europe and the seventh globally, with a societal cost in Europe estimated to be EUR 392 billion in 2019. By 2025, 9.1 million people will be living with dementia in the European Union, rising to 14.3 million in 2050.
In recent years, a number of policy commitments made at international and European level, including those of the WHO Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017-2025, have not been met. Furthermore, dementia has been deprioritised as a policy issue at a European level in recent years.
In June 2024, people across Europe will go to the polls to elect their representatives in the European Parliament. The new term of the European Commission will start in the autumn, bringing together 26 Commissioners led by a President.
As such, in advance of the 2024 elections and the new term (2024-2029) of the European Commission, Alzheimer Europe has adopted a campaign with three distinct elements, demanding dementia to be prioritised as a policy issue:
- The Helsinki Manifesto – An outline of the current situation in relation to dementia across Europe, detailing specific demands for the European Commission and national governments. The Manifesto will be the basis of Alzheimer Europe’s campaign work in the coming years. European and national organisations are invited to endorse the Manifesto.
- A public Call to Action – A call demanding that European decision-makers prioritise dementia as a policy issue and implement the actions of the Helsinki Manifesto. Members of the public are actively encouraged to sign the call.
- The Dementia Pledge 2024 – A commitment which candidates standing for the European Parliament elections are invited to sign, pledging to prioritise dementia in the areas of health, research, disability policy and informal carers. All candidates standing in the European Parliament elections are strongly encouraged to sign the pledge.
It is imperative that decision-makers at a European and national level take concrete steps to ensure that people with dementia and their carers are supported to live as well as possible with the condition. They must also ensure that the vital research driving improvements in our understanding, management and treatment of dementia is funded, commensurate with the societal impact of the condition.
We therefore urge you to get involved in our campaign! Sign our Call to Action and encourage European Parliament candidates in your country to sign the Dementia Pledge 2024!
You can follow our campaign on social media using the hashtags #DementiaNeedsEU and #DementiaPledge2024. For more information on each aspect of the campaign, please follow the dedicated sections below.