Don't drop dementia research, says Alzheimer Europe
A number of research areas are becoming noticeable by their absence from the European Commission's continuing discussions on the format of its next RTD Framework programme. One such area is research on the ageing population, which, according to Commission sources, is looking less likely to make it into the sixth round of the Community funding programme for RTD. And while there have been no official statements to this end, interest groups are becoming concerned. 'On a European level, the recognition of the European dimension of dementia and thus the financing of important pilot projects find themselves today in deep crisis,' writes Jeannot Krecké, the current chair of the 'Alzheimer Europe' organisation in an editorial to the latest issue of the organisation's newsletter. Re-allocating funds for research on dementia to a more general health promotion budget will severely jeopardise the future of pan-European cooperation in the field of dementia, warns Krecké. The organisation has noted the absence of dementia from the priorities for future funding set out so far by the European institutions. Alzheimer Europe is now working to raise its profile through increased contacts with members of the European Parliament, national member organisations and national ministers of health. It has also put its position to European Commissioner for health, David Byrne, to try to help secure more long-term support for research on dementia.