Joint Action addressing DEmentia and HEALTH

Brain diseases pose a significant challenge to public health due to their prevalence, their impact on quality of life and their economic burden, which calls for decisive political action. According to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), mental health problems cost the European Union €600 billion annually, equivalent to 4.1% of GDP.

In this regard, the ageing population increases the incidence of brain problems, and the UN predicts that by 2050, 16% of the world’s population will be over 64 years old. Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, are responsible for 60% to 70% of all cases of dementia, affecting more than 55 million people worldwide.

The JADE Health joint action takes a comprehensive and holistic approach to healthcare, addressing multiple dimensions of well-being, supporting people with dementia and other neurological disorders, and promoting education and social awareness through specific training for family members, care professionals and other key actors. This joint action will be implemented by 17 EU countries, which will apply best practices in 44 pilot projects in the participating countries.

Consortium

The JADE Health consortium brings together 47 entities from 17 countries (Spain, Denmark, Malta, Estonia, Norway, Italy, Ukraine, Germany, Slovenia, Finland, Latvia, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Lithuania) that will exchange best practices to obtain a comprehensive view of dementia across Europe with the aim of implementing a new model of diagnosis and treatment based on cutting-edge technology. Spain has the largest number of participating entities (12). In the Valencian Community, in addition to INCLIVA, the Alicante Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL) is also part of the consortium.

The role of INCLIVA

INCLIVA participates in this project as an affiliate of the Extremadura Foundation for Training and Research in Health Professionals (FUNDESALUD), which coordinates this initiative.

Under the direction of Dr. José Miguel Láinez, principal investigator of the Associated Clinical Group in Neurology and head of the Neurology Service at the University Clinical Hospital of Valencia, the INCLIVA research team will contribute to project communication and health education by co-leading various tasks.

INCLIVA will contribute its expertise in biomedical research, co-leading a pilot study aimed at improving health literacy strategies in neurodegenerative diseases and stroke, and developing another study for the early detection of dementia, with a special focus on vulnerable populations. The results of these studies will enable the development of innovative tools for the diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders, which will translate into more effective care that prioritises the specific needs of patients and carers.

JADE Health has received funding from the EU4Health Programme 2021-2027 under Grant Agreement 101183247. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them