Today marks the beginning of European Brain Awareness Week (BAW), which aims to raise public awareness about brain health and the importance of promoting research in this field. Within this framework, Angelini Pharma was a panelist at the European Brain Council (EBC) event “No brain health, no health”, which Angelini Pharma co-organized with Colm Markey MEP (EPP, Ireland) last Thursday. I am proud to have shared the privilege of becoming one. .
said Rafal Kaminsky, Chief Scientific Officer, Angelini Pharma.
At Angelini Pharma, we strive to ensure that brain health is recognized as a global health priority, both within the European region and on a global scale. As an active company in this field, our commitment goes beyond providing treatment options. We have pioneered an approach that addresses both the social and clinical determinants of brain health, with the ultimate goal of contributing to fostering an inclusive society and educating the importance of prevention. We provide new treatments for people suffering from mental health and neurological disorders, allowing them to thrive despite these conditions.
The burden of disease related to brain health is increasing and will continue to increase. It is therefore essential to encourage collaborative efforts between all parties involved in all Member States to provide the best solutions for people affected by brain health conditions and their loved ones. . At Angelini Pharma, we are proud to contribute to better treatments, with a current focus on schizophrenia, depression, and epilepsy.
In fact, in Europe, almost one in six people lives with a mental disorder, with depression and anxiety being the most common, but one in three people will develop a neurological disorder at some point in their lives. (1, 2).
Neurological disorders and mental health disorders have common mechanisms. This is reflected in an increased risk and, in some cases, an even worse prognosis for individuals with a history of mental health problems, such as neurological disorders or depression, and vice versa (3, Four).
Focusing specifically on epilepsy, the fourth most common neurological disease affecting approximately 6 million people in Europe, the comorbidity rate of mental health problems is up to 43.3 (5).
Understanding brain diseases with overlapping neurological and psychiatric phenotypes is becoming increasingly important. Research efforts must be combined to accelerate our understanding of conditions that affect the brain and find new treatments.
Additionally, consider these surprising numbers: With 240 million years worldwide expected to be lived with disability (YLD) by 2030, it is clear that people affected by brain diseases face consequences in every aspect of their lives. (6).
In the case of epilepsy, the burden affects not only the physical health of the individual but also their integration into society. Patients often report feeling stigmatized and shunned, evidence of the lack of education and awareness programs being implemented across Europe.
Providing adequate coverage for people living with epilepsy requires a concerted effort. For policy makers, it is of paramount importance to act within the framework of the World Health Organization (WHO). Interdisciplinary Global Action Plan (IGAP) on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders. It will be adopted for the first time in 2022, IGAP We envision a world where brain health is valued, promoted, and protected across the life course. However, it has been found that up to 40% of people in some European countries may not receive treatment (7). We therefore call on policymakers to develop harmonization programs and European guidelines in line with IGAP, with the ultimate goal of closing treatment gaps between Member States.
Our Headway initiative is an example of supporting harmonization efforts by promoting a multi-stakeholder approach.First launched in 2017 in partnership with a think tank European House – Ambrosetti, Headway serves as an interdisciplinary platform for strategic reflection, analysis, dialogue and comparison of different European experiences. The aim is to share knowledge and know-how to prevent, diagnose, manage and find solutions to diseases that affect the brain, not only in the medical field, but also in workplaces, schools and society at large.
The Headway initiative aims to bridge the gap between policy makers, civil society, patient organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. For 2023 only, we have brought together over 70 key opinion leaders, 27 healthcare providers, 20 patient representatives, and 13 government agencies in a series of events, workshops, and roundtables. Ta.
As we have seen over the last year, the European Commission is increasingly putting brain health at the forefront of its agenda. In fact, we published a communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health, Better Health – EU Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) InitiativeThis therefore underlies the importance of EU-level funding. Funding will be allocated to mental health and NCDs (including neurological diseases) in 2024 EU4 Health Programit is crucial to maintain the momentum and collectively advocate for further rationalization and synergy of EU resources in order to establish an efficient European partnership on brain health.
In line with that, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, at Angelini Pharma, we believe that leveraging science is the key to supporting and speeding decision-making. Scientists and policy makers, public authorities and private organizations in all EU Member States should work together to build capacity in the generation of knowledge and evidence that can translate science into action. To achieve this common goal, it is important to fund and support appropriate research efforts.
We all have an important role to play in not only developing better healthcare solutions, but also driving policy change by highlighting the real-life needs of people with brain health disorders.
References
- European House – Ambrosetti Headway – Mental Health Index 3.0 ReportOctober 2023.
- https://www.who.int/news/item/09-08-2022-launch-of-first-who-position-paper-on-optimizing-brain-health-across-life
- Pagonavara et al. Brain science. 13/318/2023.
- Bølling-Ladegaard et al Neurology 2023;100:e932-e942.
- Gurgu et al, Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 22: 909, 2021.
- https://brainhealthatlas.org/data
- European House – Ambrosetti Headway – New Roadmap for Brain Health Focus EpilepsyJuly 2023.
