The European Prevention of Alzheimer’s Dementia (EPAD) project held its consortium meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland on 19 to 21 May 2015.

The title of the meeting, “Science, Collaboration and Progress” was very appropriate. There were many lively debates between leading researchers, clinicians, ethicists, lawyers and representatives of both pharmaceutical companies and people with dementia (Alzheimer Europe and Alzheimer Scotland).

The key issues were about the scientific, practical, legal and ethical implications related to the setting up of European-wide virtual register of 24,000 patients, of which 1,500 will be invited to participate in a trial to test new treatments to prevent Alzheimer’s dementia.

This initiative is a joint undertaking between the European Union and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA).