LSMU participates in the European project addressed to the reduction of the burden of Dementia and other Neurological Disorder and related diseases
- More than 7,500 citizens will be involved in 44 pilot actions foreseen during the project.
- The project will receive 5 million euro during three years involving 47 entities from 17 countries.
- More than 2,000,000 citizens will be reached to increase awareness and reduce the stigma associated with these diseases.
Mental disorders pose a significant public health challenge due to their prevalence, impact on quality of life and economic burden, calling for demanding policy action. According to WHO data, mental health issues cost the EU€600 billion annually, equivalent to 4.1% of GDP. The pandemic has further exacerbated this crisis, particulary affecting young people and those with pre-existing conditions.
In parallel, the global aging population continues to grow, with 9% of people currently over 64 years old. The United Nations (UN) projects that by 2050, this figure will increase to 16%, meaning that one in six people will be over 64 years old (UN 2019; Yang, Zheng, and Zhao 2021). Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as dementia and other neurological disorders, considered the seventh leading cause of death and the main cause of dependency among the elderly, being present in 70% of cases. Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, the most common neurological disorder associated with dementia, accounti[ng for 60-70% of all dementia cases, currently affecting over 55 million individuals worldwide. The pandemic has placed additional pressures on people’s mental health, especially among the young and those with pre-existing mental health conditions.
To address these challenges, the European Commission has prioritized mental health alongside physical health, introducing 20 flagship initiatives supported by €1.23 billion in funding from different financial instruments. The Joint Action JADE Health – Joint Action addressing DEmentia and HEALTH – is one of these projects designed to integrate validated best practices and/or (cost-)effective interventions across countries and regions through transnational pilot initiatives, complementing and reinforcing existing policies and programs.
Project partners from 17 countries, 22 Affiliated Entities (AE) and 8 Associated partners (AP) as well as major stakeholders will gather on 12-13th February 2025, in Merida, Spain for the kick-off event of the Joint Action JADE health. The event will be organised by the Fundacion Para La Formacion e Investigacion de los Profesionales de la Salud de Extremadura (FUNDESALUD), the lead partner and coordinator of the consortium.
Corinne Salinas, JADE Health project advisor from HaDEA, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency of the European Commision, and highh-level experts in the field of dementia and related stigma, will participate in the event.
JADE Health adopts a comprehensive and holistic approach to healthcare, focusing on multiple dimensions of well-being. These include enhancing health literacy, raising awareness about dementia, and promoting early detection through screening and primary prevention, particularly among high-risk populations. The project is committed to supporting individuals living with dementia or other neurological disorders by fostering early intervention and improving education. Furthermore, JADE Health seeks to elevate societal awareness of dementia by providing targeted education to relatives, care professionals, and other key stakeholders.
The kick off event will provide a unique opportunity to deep dive in the challenges, main goals and key components of the project, aligning with the European Commission’s ‘Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health 2023: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/promoting-our-european-way-life/european-health-union/comprehensive-approach-mental-health_en . Additionally, the event will facilitate the establishment of a common vision among project partners, focusing on the selection of best practices and care models for adaptation, while also outlining the next steps for work package tasks.
The Lithuanian University of Health Science (LSMU), a consortium partner from Lithuania plays a crucial role in various tasks across different work packages. In particular, the University is leading Work Package 8 (WP8) on “Care pathways for persons with dementia and neurodegenerative disorders”. In addition, LSMU is actively involved in Work Package 6 (WP6) on “Early detection of neurocognitive disorders”, Work Package 7 (WP7) on ” Towards a harmonized and synergistic prevention of dementia and stroke” and Work Package 9 (WP9) on ” Person-centred new care models”. WP6, WP8, and WP9 will implement pilot care models based on selected best clinical practices. These models aim to improve care for people with dementia and organize services in line with international practice.
The dedicated team at LSMU contributing to the JADE Health Joint Action includes: Prof. Dr Jūratė Macijauskienė, Prof. Dr. Ida Liseckienė, Dr. Greta Najūtė, Associate Professor Lina Danusevičienė, Dr. Aistė Pranckevičienė, Dr. Raimonda Petrolienė and Dr. Birutė Bartkevičiūtė (internal coordinator of the project within the institution).
This collaborative effort represents a commitment to advancing dementia care through research, innovation and transnational cooperation. By sharing knowledge and implementing best practice, the JADE Health Joint Action aims to improve the lives of people with dementia and their families. The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania plays a key role in this project, ensuring alignment with national healthcare policy and promoting sustainability.
On 12-13th February 2025, the Joint Action JADE Health project will hold its kick-off event in Merida, Spain. This event will be organised by the Fundación Para La Formación e Investigación de los Profesionales de la Salud de Extremadura (FUNDESALUD), the lead partner and coordinator of the consortium. The event will feature presentations on dementia research, EU4Health strategies, and project work packages. The meeting will also include discussions on project management, communication, and synergies with other initiatives. Prof. Dr. Ida Liseckienė from LSMU will attend the event and represent the institution.
About JADEHEALTH:
The overarching objective of JADE Health aims to improve prevention, early detection and management of dementia and other neurological disorders, thus reducing health inequalities and addressing the needs of vulnerable population. This will be achieved through evidence-based exchange of best practice to ensure sustainability, placing a strong emphasis on prevention and early detection and involves the implementation of a new diagnosis and treatment model leveraging cutting-edge technology.
JADE Health consortium represents an unprecedented collaborative effort, uniting 17 European countries to address dementia. The participating countries are: Spain, Denmark, Malta, Estonia, Norway, Italy, Ukraine, Germany, Slovenia, Finland, Latvia, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Czechia and Lithuania. This large-scale initiative will facilitate the creation of a comprehensive picture of the dementia landscape across Europe. By fostering collaboration, JADE health will gain valuable insights into the global impact of dementia, encompassing its influence on society, the environment, families, and broader social spheres. Consortium partners are a mix of national and regional ministries of health, healthcare services, public health institutions, medical universities, research organisations, health foundations, dementia and mental health centres and municipalities. The multidisciplinary nature of the consortium allows to address dementia across its entire spectrum, from preventive measures and early detection strategies to treatment options and the development of effective public policies, in order to improve the quality of life of both the sick persons and their environment
Funded by the European Union’s EU4Health fund, the JA will span three years and will be coordinated at both the European and national levels by the FUNDACION PARA LA FORMACION E INVESTIGACION DE LOS PROFESIONALES DE LASALUD DE EXTREMADURA (FUNDESALUD).
