The event was kindly hosted by MEPs Heinz K. Becker (EPP, AT) and Marian Harkin (ALDE, IE), both members of the European Alzheimer’s Alliance, moderated by Geoff Meade and chaired by EBC President, Prof. Monica Di Luca, and hosted an excellent line-up of expert speakers and roundtable participants, who each presented and led fruitful conversation around the future of Alzheimers research, patients and carers as well as the impact the disease has and will have on society.

Dr. Ron Handels and Prof. Philip Scheltens, members of the VoT Alzheimer’s Working Group, presented their work on the potential health-economic impact of treating Alzheimer’s and the patient journey for people living with Alzheimer’s. Mr Nis Peter Nissen then continued with a national insight, speaking on the cost of informal care of Alzheimer’s in Denmark.

The roundtable brought together key stakeholders in the Alzheimer’s and neurology communities, including leading academic and policy experts on the socioeconomic burden of Alzheimer’s from organisations such as the OECD and the European Commission.

The full agenda can be looked back on HERE.

The event also marked the conclusion of the “What if” series of policy roundtables, which launched in the European Parliament in September of last year with an event on the The Right to Dignity: Overcoming the stigma and inequalities faced by people with Alzheimer’s and a second meeting in January 2018 on Overcoming the ethical challenges of early detection and diagnosis.

The discussion and policy recommendations of last week’s and previous roundtables will now be captured in a White Paper on driving the policy agenda to optimise care for people with Alzheimer’s disease in Europe today and tomorrow. The White Paper, collaboratively developed and endorsed by MSD, EBC, EFNA and other stakeholders, will be launched at the meeting of EFNA’s Brain, Mind and Pain MEP Interest Group on 21 November 2018. As we enter campaigning season for the European Parliament 2019 elections, the White Paper will be a valuable tool to support advocacy activity focused on delivering better policy today and tomorrow for people with Alzheimer’s on EU and national level.

More can be read about the Value of Treatment, the Alzheimer’s findings (Posters / Report), and follow the launch of the white paper and all the latest EBC news and events here online and on Twitter.

©EPPGroup/Lahousse

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EBC was present in the exhibition hall to raise awareness of the work being done in Brussels with the recently released Brain Mission and brain research advocacy work, as well as to continue dissemination of the Value of Treatment project concluded last year.

On Sunday, 17 June, EBC Vice-President Prof. Wolfgang Oertel and EBC Treasurer Ms Joke Jaarsma gave presentations at the Scientific Theatre, which allowed for 15 minute overviews of a series of topics. Their talk was entitled “Mind the Treatment Gap!” and covered the unmet needs of Europe in regards to treatment of patients, early intervention as well as a deeper insight into the RLS working group of the Value of Treatment project. Furthermore, Prof. Maura Pugliatti gave a presentation on “Improved patient journey in neurology” which covered the results of the Multiple Sclerosis working group also witin the Value of Treatment project.

On Monday, 18 June, EBC took part in a joint session with EAN and EFNA on the Value of Treatment for Brain Disorders in Europe, chaired by Prof. David B. Vodušek, Prof. Maura Pugliatti, and EBC Vice-President Prof. Wolfgang H. Oertel, with presentations on Brain disorders in Europe: unmet needs by EBC Vice-President, Prof. Wolfgang H. Oertel; The value of early diagnosis and treatment. A patient journey by EBC Treasurer, Joke Jaarsma; The Value of Treatment: using economic modelling to assess costs and outcomes associated with healthcare interventions by Dr. Michela Tinelli of the London School of Economics; and The value of early treatment by Prof. Maura Pugliatti.

The post EBC at EAN Congress 2018 appeared first on European Brain Council (EBC).

Key speakers gave presentations on the topic of brain research from their individual standpoints. The speakers included: Monica Di Luca (Vice President of EBC, and President of FENS), Marion LeBoyer (Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Paris) and Ann Little (President of The European Federation of Neurological Associations, EFNA, deputising for Joke Jaarsma. MEPs Ann Sander and Momchil Nekov hosted the event.

The event was highly successful, with a good showing of MEPs, policymakers, researchers and the general public who openly interacted with each other and the speakers during the hour of open discussion following the presentations.

The full presentations from each speaker will be available to watch soon.

* For more information about the Value of Treatment (VoT) for Brain Disorders research project, click here: http://bit.ly/2qhvsv4

* To read EBC’s Call to Action, click here: http://bit.ly/1mX7pPX

The post NEW VIDEO: Brain Awareness Week Outreach Event, Highlights appeared first on European Brain Council (EBC).