Alzheimer’s disease (AD) stands as a formidable challenge for individuals, families, healthcare systems, and economies worldwide. As the disease progresses, AD robs individuals of their memories, independence, and ultimately their lives. In the European Union (EU) alone, nearly 7 million people grapple with this disease, leading to substantial burden and costs to healthcare systems and economies[1]. The need to address AD's impact head-on has never been more urgent.

The science has shown that AD begins decades before seeing the cognitive decline. The detection and diagnosis of AD currently occurs during the later stages of the disease, resulting in missed opportunities for early interventions, including the potential to benefit from therapies shown to slow disease progression. Biomarker testing via cerebrospinal fluid tests (CSF) or positron emission tomography (PET) scans have emerged as crucial diagnostic tools in the confirmation of the pathologies of AD at the earliest stages of disease, yet their full potential remains untapped, as they're not yet fully integrated into routine clinical practice.

On World Alzheimer's Day, it’s worth highlighting the findings of the European Brain Council's recently published  "RETHINKING Alzheimer's disease: Detection and diagnosis", conducted in partnership with the EFPIA’s Alzheimer’s platform. This work, spanning five EU countries, delves into the hurdles facing the timely and accurate diagnosis of AD. The project incorporated expert interviews, an online survey, and a webinar to collect insights, which informed a set of policy recommendations.

One critical aspect emphasized by the report is the need for a coordinated care approach. Alzheimer’s affects various dimensions of an individual's life, necessitating collaboration among disciplines. Additionally, the report underlines the significance of research on biomarker utilization in clinical settings. Transparent communication of biomarker results and risks to individuals living with AD is also highlighted.

The policy recommendations detailed in “RETHINKING Alzheimer’s disease: Detection and Diagnosis” chart a course for improving AD detection and diagnosis in Europe. These recommendations address existing health system and care pathway challenges, with the aim of preparing health systems for future of AD treatment and care.

To have an impact, these recommendations need to transform into action. A resounding call to action is directed at policymakers at both national and EU-level to drive the changes needed to improve the lives of people living with dementia.

RETHINKING Alzheimer’s disease: Detection and Diagnosis recommends the following policy actions:

• Recognize Early Detection Benefits: Acknowledge the advantages of early AD detection and take proactive steps to prioritize it.
• Enhance Access to Biomarkers: Improve accessibility to vital biomarker-based diagnostic tests at local, regional, and national levels.
• Implement Advanced Diagnostic Tools: Develop standardized guidelines for adopting and implementing cutting-edge diagnostic tools within clinical practice.

At the national level:

• Prioritize Dementia: Develop, fund, and implement national dementia strategies. Involve stakeholders across various sectors, including individuals with AD and healthcare professionals. Raise awareness, educate, empower, and ensure flexibility for innovation.
• Utilize EU Funding: Leverage EU funding opportunities to enhance national AD detection and diagnosis facilities.
• Promote Gender Equity: Embed gender mainstreaming in policies to advance precision medicine and health equity.

At the European level for the European Commission:

• Craft European Beating Dementia Plan: Develop a comprehensive plan drawing insights from the EU Beating Cancer Plan.
• Drive Awareness Campaigns: Launch campaigns to highlight the importance of timely and accurate AD diagnosis, supporting national efforts.
• Leverage Funding: Utilize EU health and research program funding to advance AD detection and diagnosis. This encompasses education, research, and real-world application of new tools.
• Facilitate Best Practice Exchange: Foster sharing of best practices among member states through EU Joint Actions and standardized statistics reporting.

At the European level for the European Parliament:

• Prioritize Dementia: Advocate for dementia as an EU health, social, and research priority.
• Champion Awareness Campaigns: Collaborate with patient organizations, caregivers, health professionals, and more to drive awareness.
• Lead by Example: European Parliament members can become AD Ambassadors, promoting the cause on both European and national platforms.

The fight against Alzheimer’s demands a united front from individuals, policymakers, and healthcare systems. By working together, and taking action now, we will be able to chart a new course for AD detection and diagnosis, paving the way for a brighter future for those impacted by this devastating disease.

Read more about the work of EFPIA’s AD Platform.

[1] Gustavsson A, Norton N, Fast T, et al. Global estimates on the number of persons across the Alzheimer’s disease continuum. Alzheimer’s Dement. 2022;1-13. 13. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12694