Month of the Brain: experts warn MEPs over expected rise in brain diseases

2013-04-30, 19:29
Published in Society
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Brain diseases cost Europe €798 billion in 2010 and this will go up drastically in the coming years due to the continent's ageing population. By 2025 one in five Europeans will be 65 or over, resulting in more degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. In May the European Month of the Brain will be held to call attention to brain research and health care issues. A special workshop was held at the EP on 23 April to discuss what could be done about brain disorders.

About the workshop

Brain diseases and what to do about them was discussed at a workshop on 23 April organised by the EP's Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) unit. The workshop was led by STOA chairman Antonio Correia de Campos, a Portuguese member of the S&D group.

The scope of the problem

The expected increase in brain diseases will also lead to higher costs. Out of the €798 billion spent on brain diseases in 2010, 37% accounted for direct health care costs, 23% for direct non-medical costs and 40% for indirect costs, according to an analysis by the European Brain Council. Indirect costs include disability support and lost earnings for people with brain disorders.

''The biggest problem that brain research faces is the cost. There is no brain disorder where we have an adequate cure," warned Dr Colin Blakemore, professor of neuroscience at the University of London. His opinion was shared by the other speakers at the workshop.

Possible solutions

Workshop participants called for more support for research and the creation of a strong European platform for both basic and clinical brain research. In addition healthcare strategies should be coordinated between member states in order to create an all encompassing European system.

Monica Di Luca, professor of pharmacology at the University of Milano, said:  "Addressing these large costs for the European society requires intensified research and the creation of novel solutions."

www.europarl.europa.eu

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