Over 40s need to get healthy this summer to ward off Alzheimer's
Issued : Thursday 1 July, 2010
Irish Labour MEP Nessa Childers today launched a consultation period with patient groups and industry as part of a new EU initiative on tacking Alzheimer's.
She said: "Irish people of all ages, but particularly those over 40, should get fit and healthy this summer to reduce the risk of developing dementia.
"There is a daily struggle facing 44,000 people living in Ireland today with Alzheimer's. After the recent excellent Prime Time programme, awareness thankfully is now higher in Ireland but we must remember dementia is not a normal part of growing older. It is a disease which we are all at risk of suffering from but we can minimise that with some sensible lifestyle choices. As people look forward to their summer holidays, I am urging older people to enjoy the good weather by getting outside, to look at their diet and have regular checks on their health.
"Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, accounting for up to 70% of cases and is a massive burden to many Irish families. In my work on this new EU initiative, I will be emphasising the huge importance of prevention, which means healthy living, and also on early intervention as the best way to avoid the worst consequences of the disease in later life.
"This is an example of where the EU can play a constructive role in health promotion. As part of this initiative, I will work with the Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn to explore ways in which Europe can pool its research into Alzheimer's as part of the multi-billion euro Research Framework Programmes. The EU will facilitate the sharing of best practices in terms of detection, diagnosis and care. We will make sure European governments pay attention to the rights of patients and their families. The initiative will also I hope help fund awareness programmes across Europe in order to remove the stigma from this issue.
"The reason the EU must take action is clear. Neurodegenerative diseases are strongly linked with age and Europe has a rapidly ageing population. Currently, 16% of the European population is over 65, and this figure is expected to reach 25% by 2030. The average duration of the disease is between 2 and 10 years, during which patients will require special care that is a significant burden for both caregivers and for society as a whole.
"The good news is that like so many other health problems, dementia can be minimised with simple lifestyle choices. Eat well, get out and about for walks and some running, give up smoking and call into your local GP now and then. With those simple steps, we can enjoy the summer all the more."
