European Brain Council (EBC) Research Report:
The Cost of Disorders of the Brain in Europe
 
Our Ref: EBC/Letters 2005

Brussels: 7 July 2005

 
Dear Sir/Madam,
 
On behalf of the European Brain Council, I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with a copy of our most recent publication, the ‘Costs of Disorders of the Brain in Europe’.
 
The European Brain Council (EBC) is a European non-governmental organization comprising basic neuroscientists, clinicians (neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychiatrists), industry and patient representative organizations at European Union level. Our core objectives are to promote and align basic and clinical brain research throughout Europe, primarily by interacting with the European Commission and Parliament. EBC also promotes collaboration of member organizations, and promotes more pre- and post-graduate teaching in brain related topics. EBC supports and works with the European Commission to improve the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and quality of life of those living with the consequences of brain disease

 
EBC has been highly successful since its establishment in 2002: collaborating with the European Commission’s DG Research, EBC has delivered several important projects relating to the incidence and cost of brain disorders in the European Union, and our latest studies showing that brain diseases are responsible for 35% of the burden of all diseases in Europe.
 
The ‘Costs of Disorders of the Brain in Europe’ report, launched at the European Parliament in April 2005, reports that more than 100 million people in Europe live with the physical, emotional and financial consequences of brain diseases and that their number is increasing substantially because of the aging population.

 
 
Clearly this is an area that demands a coordinated response at both the national and European level, and we invite you to work with us at national level in ensuring that the significant impact of brain disorders, ranging from brain tumor, dementia, anxiety disorders, migraine, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and addiction, and the burden that it places on individuals and national economies is recognized.
 
At European level, one of the ways that we can improve the response to brain diseases is trough the establishment of a specific research area on brain research and brain disease. We believe that the ‘Costs of Disorders of the Brain in Europe’ research findings, along with previous studies conducted by EBC, have helped influence and shape the European Commission’s development of policy for the Framework 7 Programme (2007-13), which, for the first time, makes specific explicit reference to brain research and brain disorders.
 
However, the budget-line for this programme has yet to be ratified, and you can help by ensuring that your MEPs are aware of the urgent need to support brain research. You can also help by encouraging discourse regarding the issue of brain research and brain disease in your country.
 
If you should  require any further information about the European Brain Council and our activities, or a hard copy of this research report, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 
 
 
 
Sincerely,

 
 
 
 
 
 
Lorraine Leeson, PhD
Executive Consultant to the European Brain Council
 
Email: ebc@presence.lu
Website: www.europeanbraincouncil.org