NEWSLETTER June 2014 their involvement in our European Highlights in this issue Editorial Alzheimer’s Alliance. We were very Welcome! grateful to Marina Yannakoudakis 30 June: DIE magazine issue 17 2 who contacted us to discuss a published This month has continuing collaboration with AE, 30 June: AE Conference 3 seen the AE team despite not having been re- programme available travelling all over elected. We look forward to 9 June: Scottish government 7 Europe for a continuing working with her. hosts dementia conference variety of 15 June: World Elder Abuse meetings In the UK, the “Dementia Friends” 8 programme has now been Awareness day observed including a series of workshops 19 June: Global Dementia and meetings for EU projects we extended to Scotland thanks to 8 Legacy event held in London are involved in, such as EMIF, AFE funding from Alzheimer Scotland. As a new and very welcome 23 June: Cocoa extract may Innovnet, NILVAD and IMPACT. We 12 development in this area, the UK help with AD were also represented in Geneva at the “Alzheimer University” of Parliament pledged to become the Alzheimer’s Disease International. first dementia-friendly parliament in the world! We also participated in two high level policy events in June with In the scientific field, a form of Annette attending the Global cocoa extract has been in the news this month as a possible dietary Dementia Legacy Event in London and Alex participating in the first supplement to help ward off international dementia conference dementia, further studies pending. organised by the Scottish A new therapeutic target may also Government. The importance of have been found in the form of a these events was aptly compound that is claimed to prevent blood clots in the brain. summarised by Geoff Huggins, Scotland’s Acting Director of We are enjoying a warm, Health and Social Care Integration Luxembourgish summer, preparing saying that “dementia is too big for for a series of meetings here in any one nation”. It is heartening to July and for our Conference in see the international community Glasgow in October. The early bird following the example of the fee is no longer available, but you European Union in promoting can register with the normal fee greater collaboration on dementia. via our website. The detailed Human rights, in particular those conference programme is now Table of contents of older people, have been available on our website too, in the conference section. Judging by Editorial ............................................... 1 another hot topic, with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day being the registrations so far, we are Alzheimer Europe ................................ 2 observed on 15 June. UN looking at record numbers of attendees this year. AE Projects .......................................... 3 Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon called for more effective AE Networking 2014 ............................ 4 Issue 17 of our DIE magazine just prevention strategies and further come out and is available for EU Developments ................................ 5 interest has been gathering for a purchase, also on our website in possible UN convention on the Members’ News .................................. 6 the publications section. human rights of older people. Policy Watch........................................ 7 Finally, our friends at the Bradford On the EU front, the European Dementia group are looking for a Science Watch ................................... 10 Medicines Agency has agreed a Head of Practice Development and modified clinical trial data policy, Dementia in Society .......................... 13 Training. Applications for the in response to questions from the position close on 15 July. New Publications & Resources.......... 14 EU Ombudsman regarding a Wishing you a fantastic summer! AE Calendar 2014 .............................. 15 previous draft. We will also shortly be reaching out to all elected and Future Conferences ........................... 16 re-elected Members of the Jean Georges European Parliament to discuss Executive Director Page 1 of 17 Newsletter: June 2014 Throughout the UK in the last 6 months an increasing Alzheimer Europe number of people from all walks of life in UK have 2 June: AE issues call for EWGPWD candidates become “Dementia Friends”. This means that they have had some basic instruction with regard to dementia and On 2 June a call was issued to its effects on day to day life for those with the diagnosis all of Alzheimer Europe’s and their carers. Basic knowledge includes the fact that member organisations to not all dementias are the same, both in their effects and nominate new members for its European Working Group the problems they cause. At the same time four major of People with Dementia (EWGPWD) as well as candidates businesses in UK have pledged all staff to become for the next Board. Dementia Friends and ensured understanding in dealing with any problems that arise. It is hoped that over the The working group came into being in 2012 and the next 12 months an increasing number will become current Board was elected in October 2012 to serve for sensitive in this way to the problems of those with two years. The group’s next meeting will be held in dementia and their carers over day to day things and how th October, just prior to AE’s AGM and 24 annual to make a difference. conference in Glasgow, Scotland and will include the election of the new Board. The new Chairperson of the As an Ambassador for the Society and a person with EWGPWD will also sit on the Board of Alzheimer Europe. dementia I am always glad to hear of these developments and pleased that now people with dementia are given a 12 June: Former MEP Marina Yannakoudakis voice and can influence how things can be improved. meets with AE to discuss continuing collaboration 30 June: Dementia in Europe magazine issue 17 On 12 June 2014 Alzheimer Europe’s published Annette Dumas met former MEP Marina Yannakoudakis in Brussels to discuss Alzheimer Europe’s Dementia in Europe future collaboration on dementia issues. magazine, issue 17 was published on 30 June and is available on our website. Ms Yannakoudakis has been a keen and dedicated dementia advocate as member and Vice-Chair of the European Alzheimer’s Alliance in the This issue contains articles on: European Parliament. She wishes to continue supporting Alzheimer Europe in keeping dementia as a European IMI’s Michel Goldman at Alzheimer Europe’s priority and dedicate some of her time to help the lunch debate. organisation. MEP Marina Yannakoudakis exploring the The Global Fight against Dementia initiated by UK Prime effects of EU initiatives on Alzheimer’s disease. Minister D. Cameron has been identified as an area where AE’s plans to re-launch the EAA and the we could work together. Europe-wide pre-election campaigns that took place to recruit the new parliamentary 27 June: EWGPWD’s Daphne Wallace reports on members. activities in UK this year A new Care Pathways research project. Since this time last year a lot of things AETIONOMY project coordinators outlining the have happened in UK with regards to aims of a new IMI research project. dementia. In December there was a G8 The EWGPWD preparing for the 2014 AE Summit Meeting and dementia was a Conference. topic that came up for discussion. AE launching a clinical trial database. At the end of February 2014 David Switzerland’s new national dementia strategy. Cameron, Prime Minister of the UK announced the plans Italy preparing for its EU Presidency. in UK to tackle the issues identified at the G8 meeting. He announced a £90 million package to improve dementia Greece working towards a new national diagnosis and care. This was intended to help solve a dementia strategy. problem with diagnosis in UK: diagnosis can take up to 25 Finland introducing economic austerity weeks (or more) for some while other people receive a measures. diagnosis in 6 weeks. The AAL JP programme harnessing ICT to improve the quality of life of people with David Cameron also announced the appointment of a dementia. World Dementia Envoy to raise funds for research towards a cure (Dr Dennis Gillings, CBE, PH.D.). This AMPA Monaco providing care for all people followed a landmark agreement by the G8 countries with dementia. following the summit in London in December 2013. Jean-Pierre Frognet describing his recent trial run of a day care centre. The marked difference in rate of diagnosis by GPs between France and UK (more GPs than relatives initiate A Czech soap opera portraying dementia in its diagnosis in France, the opposite is true in UK) has been storyline. looked at by the Health Secretary who visited France in The price of the magazine, including postage is EUR 5.20. February this year to learn how this has been achieved. www.alzheimer-europe.org/Publications/Dementia-in-Europe-Magazines Page 2 of 17 Newsletter: June 2014 30 June: 24th Annual AE Conference programme is Management Plan summaries, and information about the available online new headquarters of the EMA. Ana Diaz attended for AE. Alzheimer Europe’s 24th annual conference is to be held 4 June: IMPACT meeting takes place in Spain this year in Glasgow from 20 to 22 October. The detailed On 4 June, an IMPACT project meeting was held in Lleida, programme for the full conference is now available on the Spain. The meeting consisted mainly of progress reports AE website: by the work package leaders and discussing the www.alzheimer-europe.org/Conferences/2014-Glasgow/Detailed- dissemination of the findings as well as the final Programme-and-abstracts conference (Towards integration of palliative care in an age-friendly EU) on 15 October 2014 in Brussels where they will present their findings. This is by invitation only. The overall aim of the IMPACT project is to develop optimal improvement strategies to improve the organisation of palliative cancer and dementia care in EU Projects Europe and to study factors influencing the effectiveness 27 May: NILVAD partners attend Brain Health of the strategies.