The European Parliament has called on the European Commission to establish a dedicated strategy to tackle Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, urging clear funding commitments and set deadlines.
- On 11 September, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) gathered for a plenary debate on “a European strategy for addressing Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.”
- The discussion was opened by Piotr Serafin, Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration, who presented current EU initiatives related to dementia.
Several MEPs used the occasion to share personal experiences with the illness, while also pointing to the growing number of people affected and the heavy burden on societies. They called for stronger EU involvement, stressing the need for more investment in healthcare, scientific research, and social policies.
According to the European Brain Council,
“the societal and economic cost of dementia in Europe is also very high and estimated to increase over EUR 250 billion by 2030 (with over 50% of this due to informal care costs), the equivalent of the whole GDP of Finland. AD is thus not only a debilitating and progressive disease affecting the daily lives of people, their families and carers, but also a huge burden for our economy and European nations’ healthcare and social care systems. Healthcare systems in Europe currently lack the capacity to detect, diagnose and treat AD effectively.”
Proposals included the creation of a European Action Plan on Dementia and the establishment of a dedicated research mission within the Horizon Europe programme.
In his concluding remarks, Commissioner Serafin welcomed the exchange with lawmakers and pledged to bring forward the idea of a research mission on dementia for discussion within the College of Commissioners.
The urgency of the issue was underlined during the session in Strasbourg: nearly seven million Europeans are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease, a figure projected to double by 2030.
Dementia poses “one of our most serious public health challenges,” noted Commissioner Serafin, emphasising that advancing research, diagnosis, and treatment requires joint efforts.
As part of its current work, the Commission launched the Joint Action on Dementia and Health (JADE Health) in January 2025.
This three-year project, supported with €4.5 million from the EU4Health programme, seeks to help member states strengthen prevention and early detection, while also providing training and support for families, care professionals, and other stakeholders.
15.09.2025.
Photo: Piotr Serafin; Copyright: European Union 2025; Photographer: Christian CREUTZ
