Commission details its attack on Alzheimer
The European Commission has published details of its plans for cutting the enormous social and economic costs of a disease that will affect at least one in 20 European citizens as they enter old age. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia among the elderly causing a progressive loss of cognitive and intellectual function. It affects 5% of the 65 to 70 years age group and the incidence increases to one in five of those aged 85 years or over. But it is not exclusively a disease of old age, as cases can occur in people in their 30s. Alzheimer's is a progressive disorder causing gradual loss of memory and changes in behaviour, communication skills and judgement which eventually render the victims incapable of looking after themselves. This places a huge social and economic burden on families and carers and these are predicted to increase as the average age of the European population increases. To mark World Alzheimer's disease day on September 21, the Commission has reported details of six research projects for which it is providing 2 million euro in funding over three years. The projects began this year as part of the Fifth Framework initiative's Quality of Life programme. Five studies are aimed at understanding different aspects of the process that results in the characteristic changes in brain cells seen in Alzheimer's disease. Two of these projects involve collaborations with partners in the pharmaceutical industry and it is hoped that the work will help in identifying and testing new strategies for treating the disorder. The sixth project is intended to develop better methods of diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in its early stages when it can be mistaken for other, more treatable conditions.