HEALTH : MEPS PROPOSE EUROPEAN YEAR OF THE BRAIN.

• Position: Members of the European Parliament

Members of the European Parliament welcomed the Commission's communication on an EU initiative on Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia and suggest a number of measures to boost the Union's action against these neurodegenerative diseases. On 30 November, they adopted a report by Marisa Matias (EUL-NGL, Portugal) by 48 to zero, with one abstention, in the Committee on the Environment and Public Health (ENVI).

The number of persons suffering from dementia - primarily Alzheimer's disease - is estimated at 9.9 million and a new case is diagnosed every 24 seconds. MEPs stressed the need for prevention and increased awareness and proposed a European Year of the Brain' in addition to World Alzheimer's Day, on 21 September.

MEPs then urged the Council to declare that dementia constitutes a health priority for the European Union and invited member states to draw up specific national plans and strategies in this connection. Member states should also cooperate, particularly on research, to reduce inequalities between and within countries on diagnosis and treatment. The states could define a common research agenda in the area of neurodegenerative diseases and also a strategic research agenda. Such an agenda should establish medium to long-term research needs and...