Within the framework of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Brain Council (EBC) has organized in the Senate the scientific symposium "Our Brains, Our Future: The value of brain research in improving patients in Europe", in collaboration with the Spanish Brain Council and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).
The event was attended by the president of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Cristina Maragall, who spoke at the last session of the symposium "Addressing brain challenges at EU level: Towards a European partnership for brain health”. In this section, the need to improve health policies, support research and promote public education and awareness has been discussed. In this regard, the important role that Spain can play in promoting innovative policies and effective programmes to improve brain health throughout Europe has been highlighted.
Firstly, Cristina Maragall explained the work carried out by both the Pasqual Maragall Foundation and its research centre, the Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC) since its creation in 2008. She then called for Alzheimer's and dementia to have more weight on the political agenda and for strategies and plans to be developed in a coordinated manner that address science, research, public health, healthcare and support for carers.Neurodegenerative diseases and mental illnesses require increased funding for research and healthcare treatment, given their high prevalence and the enormous costs they cause to the health system, social services and, above all, to the families of those affected, who bear the majority of the costs of care.", he said.
According to data from the European Commission, the prevalence of dementia in the European Union increased from 5.9 million people in 2000 to 9.1 million in 2018. It is estimated that there will be 13.4 million people with dementia in 2030 and around 18.7 million cases in 2050. Of all of them, between 60% and 70% are due to Alzheimer's disease.
The European Brain Council says Europe must take a central role in brain health. They believe that improved collaboration can lead to a better understanding of the brain through basic research, innovation in clinical research and treatment methods and effective results in improving the health of people living with neurodegenerative diseases.
