The coming wave of older people, coupled with longer life expectancy in the Nordic Region, means that more people than before will be exposed to age-related diseases. At the same time, more younger people are being diagnosed with dementia, and we don't know why this is.

"We must crack the dementia code. Advanced dementia research is extremely important for the Nordic welfare societies in the coming years," says Siv Friðleifsdóttir.

Only Norway has a plan for dementia

The former Icelandic health minister sees the potential for getting more out of each crown spent on research with stronger Nordic co-operation. Currently, a Nordic research network, with funding from NordForsk, is working to develop a common diagnostic practice. On a visit to Ullevål University Hospital in Oslo during the Nordic Council's April meetings, the Welfare Committee was told that Norway is the only Nordic country to have a national plan for dementia care and advanced dementia research.

"We will look at the best of what is being done in these areas in Norway and incorporate it into the main focus of work in the Welfare Committee in 2010: a better quality of life for the elderly in the Nordic countries," says Siv Friðleifsdóttir. A recent case in Sweden, where an elderly married couple could no longer live together when one spouse had to go into a nursing home, gave the committee chair food for thought.

"We need to study the housing situation for people with dementia. At the same time Nordic co-operation on better methods of treatment will allow more people to live at home longer," believes Siv.

Too small on their own

During the visit to Ullevål the Welfare Committee also learnt more about the potential for improving Nordic co-operation on rare diseases. These are often difficult to diagnose because we know little about the diseases. It is challenging to provide good treatment and the treatment is often very expensive. Meanwhile, because of their different framework conditions at times, the Nordic countries are often markets with too small a potential individually for the pharmaceutical industry to finance trials of new types of treatment.

"There is great potential for Nordic synergy with regard to work in rare diseases," says Siv Friðleifsdóttir, who is also concerned about the situation of the relatives.

"They often have a difficult time, also in practical terms, since rare diseases are often genetic," concludes the chair of the Welfare Committee.

Beate Christine Wang
Phone +45 33 96 04 42
Email bcw@norden.org