Lib Dem MEP Liz Lynne has welcomed a vote in the European Parliament calling for Alzheimer’s disease to be a public health priority for the EU.

The Parliament in Strasbourg voted to back a report calling for a coordinated EU wide response to improve diagnosis and treatment of the disease, which affects over 9 million people across Europe.

MEPs want European Member States to develop an EU wide action plan on the disease, involve Alzheimers patient groups and increased public awareness through initiatives such as a European Year of Mental Health.

The report, written by Portuguese MEP Marisa Matias, focuses on the need for public health campaigns to highlight diets that reduce the incidence of the disease and for international cooperation on early diagnostic testing and research.

West Midlands MEP Liz Lynne, who is the co-Chair of the European Parliaments All Party Intergroup on Ageing, said she welcomed the report.

“It is good news that this report has been given such strong support by MEPs from all parties. All European countries can do better on Alzheimer’s, which is a truly terrible disease .

“This report shows how pooling research efforts and sharing best practice on early diagnosis and managing quality of life could make a huge difference to sufferers and their families.

“I also welcome the call for a network of specialist Alzheimer’s centres using MRI scanners to provide early diagnosis which is so important and to use the latest drug treatments to slow the onset of the disease.

“The report also backs the growing campaign for much more integrated approach to the long term care of older people generally, which I have long called for.

“Many older people in long term care suffer from Alzheimers and other forms of dementia and there is so much more we can do to improve the quality of life of these patients and help their families to give support.

“With early diagnosis and the right treatment, and care based around home help, patients and their families can manage their condition for many years.

“The report also calls for action plans for patients and a much bigger role for Alzheimer’s Disease associations and patients’ groups.

“It makes sense to co-ordinate the research efforts by experts across Europe to look for improved treatments and possible cures for this terrible disease, which due to the ageing population is going to become an even bigger challenge than it is today.”

ENDS

Note: Currently 9.9 million European citizens are diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common form of Dementia, but scientists predict that this number could double every 20 years as a result of the ageing population. The full text of the motion welcoming the report which MEPs voted for today can be found at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/FindByProcnum.do?lang=2&procnum=INI/2010/2084