Sent on behalf of Henry Simmons, Chief Executive, Alzheimer Scotland By email and twitter

Dear David,

Supporting Scotlands 88,000 people with dementia, their families, carers and friends

I am writing to you to ask you to commit to supporting people with dementia, their families and carers, if you are re-elected as one of Scotlands MEPs I know that you are supportive of the work of our E! um"rella organisation, #l$heimer Europe, and I am writing today to ask you to continue that support in the ne%t Parliament &hrough your engagement with the communities you seek to represent in the European Parliament, you will know that more and more people in Scotland are affected "y dementia '',((( Scots are living with the one form of the condition or another, though many of them are not yet diagnosed &hese '',((( people have hus"ands, wives, children, families and friends whose lives are also profoundly affected "y the impact that dementia has on the person they are close to #l$heimer Scotland is asking you, on "ehalf of these thousands of Scottish people, to )oin MEPs and candidates from across the European !nion to commit to working together to support the growing num"ers of people affected "y dementia Can you pledge to: Join the European Alzheimers Alliance the group of !E"s wor#ing in the European "arliament to ma#e dementia a European priority$ Support greater European colla%oration on dementia and ensure dementia is recognised as a priority in the European &nions pu%lic health and research acti'ities$ (or# with Alzheimer Scotland and support people with dementia in Scotland)

Please send us a *uick reply to this email, call us on (+,+ -., +./, or tweet us at 0al$scot to let us know that you are "acking the thousands of people in Scotland who are affected "y dementia "y supporting this pledge !nless you tell us otherwise, #l$heimer Scotland and #l$heimer Europe will pu"licise your support to encourage others to do the same

1urther information is provided "elow a"out dementia in Europe and the European #l$heimers #lliance 1or more information a"out dementia in Scotland and the work of #l$heimer Scotland, have a look at our we"site www al$scot org or get in touch with our policy team using one of the methods a"ove &hanks in advance for your support 2y working together, we can make sure that no"ody faces dementia alone 3ours,

4enry Simmons 5hief E%ecutive #l$heimer Scotland

*ementia in Europe &oday, close to ' million Europeans have dementia, #l$heimers disease "eing the most common form of dementia In addition, close to -. million informal carers are directly impacted "y the disease #l$heimers disease and other forms of dementia are the most common of neurodegenerative diseases #lthough it primarily affects elderly people, an increasing num"er of early-onset dementia 6"elow the age of 7(8 can "e o"served &o-date, no curative treatment e%ists #ccess to services, treatment and support is une*ual "etween E! Mem"er States &he ageing of the population and the uncertainty around the sustaina"ility of healthcare services impose upon us that timely, tailored and coordinated actions are taken to address these challenges and ensure European citi$ens have access to the care and support they need

+he European Alzheimers Alliance &he European #l$heimer9s #lliance was set up in the European Parliament in -((: It is a non-e%clusive, multinational and cross-party group which "rings together Mem"ers of the European Parliament committed to support #l$heimer Europe and its mem"ers to make dementia a pu"lic health priority in Europe

&he #lliance9s mission is to foster concerted action at European and national level in the field of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of #l$heimer9s disease, research and social policies and influence the political agenda Achie'ements: over the years, thanks to the colla"orative work of #l$heimer Europe, national #l$heimer associations and #lliance mem"ers, dementia has "een addressed "y #;5<=E 6European >oint #ction on Dementia8 and the European research programmes 61P: and 4ori$on -(-( 8 European and international cooperation in research has emerged with the Innovative Medicines Initiatives 6IMI and IMI -8 and the >oint Programming of ?eurodegenerative research 6>P?D8 #t national level, +' Mem"er States have a dementia strategy in place while others are in the process of developing one