Alzheimer Europe launches new website dedicated to the public health impact of Alzheimer's disease

The website (http://www.dementia-in-europe.eu/) provides detailed information on the numbers of people with dementia in 31 European countries (25 Member States of the European Union and Bulgaria, Iceland, Norway, Romania, Switzerland and Turkey), as well as an overview of the reimbursement of anti-dementia drugs and the provision of home care in these countries.

Maurice O'Connell, Chairperson of Alzheimer Europe commented:

'Alzheimer Europe's mission is to ensure that European citizens have equal access to a high level of appropriate services and treatment options regardless of the country they live in. Nevertheless, the surveys conducted by our organisation demonstrate that this is far from being the case. Our website will therefore be a useful tool for policy makers and associations to compare their situation to that of other countries and to lobby for the necessary improvements.

'The website will also be a rallying point for Alzheimer Europe's campaign to make dementia a public health priority on a European level and in the different countries covered by the organisation.

'5.8 million citizens currently live with a form of dementia in the European Union. This is but the tip of iceberg, as these figures are predicted to double or even treble by 2050. But even today, the numbers of people affected by this disease is much higher, as dementia does not only affect the persons with the disease, but their partners, children and grand-children. We hope that policy makers, associations and individuals will come to our website to show their solidarity with people with dementia and support our campaign online.'