Results of an international survey by Alzheimer Europe reveal that the majority of respondents in each of the five countries surveyed wish to see government spending increased both on research into treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and caring for people with this condition. The findings were presented today at a lunch debate in the European Parliament hosted by Frieda Brepoels, MEP and organised by Alzheimer Europe to launch the results of its “Value of Knowing” survey.

The survey of the US and four European countries – France, Germany, Poland and Spain – was designed and analysed by Alzheimer Europe and the Harvard School of Public Health.
The survey found that a large proportion of the public has had some experience with Alzheimer’s disease. Majorities in all five countries say that they know or have known someone with Alzheimer’s disease, including about seven in ten in France (72%), Germany (73%), Spain (77%), and in the US (73%), and 54% in Poland. About three in ten have had personal experience with a family member with Alzheimer’s disease. Experience with a family member ranges from 19% in Poland to 42% in the US. In addition, about one in ten members of the public has had significant life experience by being one of the people involved in the day-to-day support of the person living with Alzheimer’s disease.

In four of the five countries, Alzheimer’s disease was the second biggest health fear after cancer. The public were asked to choose which disease they were most afraid of getting from a list of seven diseases including cancer, heart disease and stroke. Around a quarter of adults in four of the five countries stated that they most feared getting Alzheimer’s disease.
Fear of Alzheimer’s disease increases with age, but even young adults are concerned, with approximately one in seven 18 to 34-year-olds reporting Alzheimer’s as the disease they are most afraid of getting from the list provided.

Not surprisingly, clear majorities in all countries favoured greater public investment in the care of people with Alzheimer’s disease (60% in the US, 69% in Germany, 72% in Poland, 79% in Spain and 85% in France) with small minorities (between 1% in France and Spain and 5% in the US) wishing current spending to be decreased.

Similar majorities (67% in the US, 68% in Germany, 75% in Poland and 83% in France and Spain) supported greater government spending on research for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Frieda Brepoels, MEP, commented on these findings: “As Vice-Chairperson of the European Alzheimer’s Alliance, I have been supporting Alzheimer Europe’s campaign to make dementia a public health priority. The findings clearly show that Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are a major public concern. The European Parliament is fully aware of this and has been calling upon the European Commission to develop a European Action Plan. It is time for the Commission to give Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia the priority they deserve.”

Heike von Lützau-Hohlbein, Chairperson of Alzheimer Europe, said: “In times of economic difficulties, we should not forget the impact that dementia can have on people’s lives and those of their families and carers. I am delighted that the general public supports Alzheimer Europe’s call for greater investment in research and care. In some European countries (England, France, Norway and Scotland) we have already seen the development of comprehensive dementia strategies and it is now time for such programmes to be put in place in all European countries to better support people with dementia and their carers.”

For further information, please visit the Alzheimer Europe website: http://www.alzheimer-europe.org