There is a high prevalence of mental disorders and other disorders of the brain in Europe (Wittchen et al. 2011) and a high associated cost, at €798 billion in 2010. Direct costs constitute the majority of costs (60%; Gustavvson et al.  2011). Wittchen et al. Concluded that ‚‘concerted priority action is needed at all levels, including substantially increased funding for basic, clinical and public health research in order to identify better strategies for improved prevention and treatment for disorders of the brain as the core health challenge of the 21st century’.

None of these studies has as yet isolated the impact of vision and hearing impairments and their relation to mental and cognitive ill health. In WP4 will therefore fill knowledge gaps regarding costs of mental health and sensory impairment among the older population in Europe.

Main research questions: 

What are the health economic impacts of the high prevalence of concurrent mental, cognitive and sensory ill health in elderly people in Europe? How can we optimise the overall health economic indicators in the wider health service while promoting new interventions that are potentially cost effective and result in better mental health outcomes for elderly people in Europe with less reliance on primary and secondary care services?