Public Health Priorities 1. In 2006, close to 5.4 million
citizens in the European Union are living with Alzheimer's
disease or another form of dementia. With the ageing of the
populations in all the Member States of the European Union,
these numbers are set to increase and researchers have predicted
a doubling of these figures by 2040 in Western Europe and a
trebling of these figures in Eastern Europe. Alzheimer Europe
calls upon the European Union, the World Health Organisation and
national governments to recognise Alzheimer's disease as a major
public health issue and develop European and international
programmes as well as national action plans to adequately
respond to the challenges posed by the growing numbers of people
with dementia. 2. In 1996 and 1998, the European Parliament
dedicated two resolutions to Alzheimer's disease in which it
stressed the public health implications of an ageing population
and the increase in numbers of people affected by Alzheimer's
disease and other forms of dementia. The