DZNE-Patient Council

The aim of the DZNE-Patient Council is to promote awareness of disease-related issues that need to be researched and addressed within the DZNE mission. The Patient Council advises the DZNE Board and DZNE scientists on issues related to the further integration of patients into society and the avoidance of their stigmatization, as well as on health issues that can be improved through medical interventions or care approaches. The Council advocates for the cause of neurodegenerative diseases and DZNE research to the public, policy makers and the media. The goal is to integrate the patient voice into core research activities and to work together to increase society's awareness of all issues related to neurodegenerative diseases. The Council is composed of affected individuals and representatives of patient organizations, elects its own chairperson, and meets with the DZNE Board at least twice a year. The Council is supported by the DZNE in all necessary functions.

Dr. Jörg Karenfort is a lawyer and partner in an international law firm. He founded the YUVEDO Foundation together with entrepreneur Jens Greve in response to his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. In doing so, he wants to make his contribution to further and more targeted research and better care for people with Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases. For him, research into the causes, especially with a with focus on possible environmental influences or climate change, the consistent use of patient data and new technologies, and the right incentive structures for researchers and pharmaceutical companies play an essential role.

Monika Kaus has been actively involved with the topic of Alzheimer's since her mother became ill in the 1990s and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2000. Since 1999, Monika Kaus has been a member of the Alzheimer Society Wiesbaden, where she was an honorary board member from 2005 to 2009. Since 2006 she supports the umbrella organization of the German Alzheimer Society as treasurer, since 2015 she is also the first chairwoman there. Furthermore, Monika Kaus is a founding member of the Dementia Forum of the city of Wiesbaden and is active in two working groups there, "Public Relations" and "Care".

Alina has known since 2015 that Huntington's disease runs in her family. Her aunt has already passed away from the consequences and her father has been living with the diagnosis for almost 10 years. Alina also decided to undergo predictive genetic testing and now knows she inherited the gene. As she becomes involved in support groups, she realizes how much people struggle with the diagnosis and their lives with the disease. She originally studied media production and worked in the film business as a creative producer. She then used her expertise to start the podcast "Grow-Strong" and now supports DHH with a part-time position in PR & Public Relations. She is a courageous life artist and chooses a different way of life with less stress, but also with less security. Living in the here and now is her motto. When she then completes a training as a Hatha Yoga teacher in India, her circle closes more and more. Today she gives workshops on topics such as "Healthy Habits - how to calm our nervous system" and participates in events with movement therapy. Because even with Huntington's, it is now known: Mindful and positive living can probably save us from a too early onset of the disease and mitigate its course.

Jens Gunter Greve has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease since 2013 and has since studied the disease and contributed to solutions to improve diagnosis, research and therapy. He is co-founder of MedEngine, which develops a Parkinson's watch to measure symptoms, founder of YUVEDO, which offers a Parkinson's app with comprehensive neuro-exercises, and co-founder of the YUVEDO Foundation. He is a member of various working groups, including the 'Research Interest Group' of EPDA. In September 2021, he organized the ITTF Parkinson's Table Tennis World Championships as Chair of the LOC. His current focus is on actively engaging patients and family members in Parkinson's research. He is a licensed attorney, but has been a passionate entrepreneur for 30 years and lives with his family in Berlin.

I was born prematurely (7 months) in Heerlen (NL) in 1964 and my life was to be marked by the eternal struggle for health. I was employed for several years as an executive secretary at Deutsche Lufthansa in Istanbul and worked as an administrative assistant in Cologne until my health-related reduced earning capacity pension. I am married the second time and have a daughter from my first marriage. With the diagnosis of dementia and Parkinson's syndrome, both my mother and my daughter and some friends turned away from me. Even though many see the diagnosis of dementia as negative at first, it also opened my eyes to some things. For example, I recently launched a book "Ich habe Demenz ... keine Angst, ist nicht ansteckend" (I have dementia ... don't be scared, is not contagious), which was written over 7 years by myself and with the help of my husband. In addition, since 2014, my support group: "Dementia at a young age" has been growing on Facebook. It currently has over 1400 members. Dementia concerns us ALL!"