AD a priority for France's EU presidency

Alzheimer Europe, which represents Alzheimer's disease patient groups, has reacted positively to the decision by France's President, Nicolas Sarkozy, to make the development of a European Union-wide Alzheimer's Plan a centerpiece of the country's presidency of the EU for the six months from July 1. The decision follows Pres Sarkozy's promise during his election campaign in 2007 to make AD a national priority (Marketletters passim).

Maurice O'Connell, Alzheimer Europe's chairperson, said that the French initiative exactly matches what the patient group has been calling for at an EU level. He said: "to receive the backing of the acting-President of the European Council will give our campaign an incredible boost. We look forward to working with the French Presidency to find solutions for the 6.1 million people with dementia in the EU."

Pres Sarkozy's Alzheimer's Plan in France was characterized by a strategy of upgrading all aspects of AD care. This meant that improving diagnostics and drug therapies, as well as developing better nursing and social services practices, were focused on. The issue of new drug R&D at an EU level in the area of AD is likely to figure in the French Presidency's plans.