THE FRENCH ALZHEIMER’S PLANS

France was one of the first countries to develop specific, funded, and well-structured plans for Alzheimer’s disease. After two plans since 2000, the third one (2008–2012) resulted in actions from care to research, whilst respecting ethical considerations. It intended to improve the quality of care and to combine research efforts. An evaluation of this plan at the request of the French government was performed at the end of 2012, and led to a fourth plan expanded to neurodegenerative diseases. The French plans aim to offer a comprehensive response to the increase of the disease’s prevalence. Faced with the challenges of the growing dementia population, every country has answered with their own methods and objectives, through the development of specific plans (like in France) or within their policies and programs for seniors as well as mental health. These differences may be linked to the different health and social systems.