Page 85 - Annual Report 2018

5. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

▄▀ 5.1. Introduction
The world population is aging. Improvements in he- ternational funding and the drive of modern com-
alth care in the last century have helped people to munication technologies, but also because science
have longer and healthier lives. However, this has re- itself has become a truly international collaborative
sulted in an increase in the number of people with activity. In particular, the scope and scale of the pro-
age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative blem of neurodegenerative diseases in today's so-
diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases are responsi- ciety require a global response to confront this great
ble for mitigating states, largely untreated and are challenge and thus has been recognized by various
closely linked with age. Among these disorders, de- international institutions such as the European Union
mentias are responsible for the greatest burden of (EU), the Organization for Economic Cooperation
disease, with Alzheimer's disease and related disor- and Development (OECD), the World Health Orga-
ders the causes of impairment of approximately nization (WHO), etc.), and the industrialized countries
seven million people in Europe. This figure is expec- that constitute the G8. This global concern has led
ted to double every 20 years, as the population to the creation of the World Dementia Council
ages. (WDC) with the aim of collectively spur action
against dementia worldwide in the areas of rese-
Currently, care and treatment of patients with some arch, clinical care and social awareness.
form of dementia in Europe accounts for a cost of
around 130,000 million euros a year, according to es- The leaders of governments, businesses and acade-
timates by the Joint Programme of the European mia also recognize the need for a coordinated stra-
Union for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases tegy to address this major global challenge for
(JPND). This comes to show that age-related neuro- health systems. There is consensus among all stake-
degenerative disorders are one of the leading me- holders on the need to build capacities, infrastruc-
dical and social challenges facing our society. tures and R&D resources in the field of
neurodegenerative diseases. As a result, WHO has
Although primarily affecting older people, demen- decided to establish a global observatory on de-
tia is not a normal part of aging. Dementia is a mentia to monitor the prevalence of the condition
syndrome mainly of chronic or progressive nature, and resources to care for patients in Member States
caused by a variety of brain illnesses that affect me- as well as to track the establishment of national
mory, thinking, behavior and the ability to perform plans and policies against dementia.
activities of daily life. Dementia is devastating not
only for those who suffer from it but also for their ca- There is also a pressing need for global participation
regivers and family. Worldwide, it is one of the lea- and a commitment to a significant increase in in-
ding causes of disability and dependence among vestment in skills and resources to reduce the dura-
the elderly. In most countries somehow there is a lack tion of these chronic brain pathologies and/or the
of awareness and understanding of dementia, cau- number of people at risk. This budgetary effort should
sing stigmatization, barriers to diagnosis and care, be accompanied by sound policies and legislative
and impacts on caregivers, family and society, both initiatives to encourage public-private partnerships.
from the physical as well as psychological and eco- History has shown that collaboration between aca-
nomic point of view. demic researchers, government agencies and phar-
maceutical and biotechnology companies is an
International scientific collaboration increases more essential ingredient in promoting this type of ambi-
and more, not only because of the availability of in- tious initiatives, especially when resources are limited.

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