£1.2 million donated to Alzheimer's Society dementia research

Over the next three years the Society will receive a total of £1.2 million from the Mike Gooley Trailfinders Charity. The money is specifically for research and will fund two fellowships, which will improve understanding of dementia and explore ways of improving drug treatments for the condition. The charity has also pledged significant funding towards a further exciting new project to improve the infrastructure of scientific research in the UK. Details will be announced later in the year.

Professor Clive Ballard, director of research at the Alzheimer's Society, says:

'We are delighted to accept this generous donation. It gives us a fantastic opportunity to build on the major advances that have been made in dementia research since the launch of the Society 25 years ago. In this time many promising new areas of research have come to light as well as a number of treatments that bring relief from the distressing symptoms of dementia. But the ultimate goal is to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. This substantial donation from the Mike Gooley Trailfinders Charity will fund vital research that will ensure we are delivering the best care in the present, whilst giving hope of a cure in the future.'

The Alzheimer's Society is the first dementia organisation to receive a grant from the Mike Gooley Trailfinders Charity, which in the past has focused its grant giving on cancer research. The founder of the Mike Gooley Trailfinders Charity, after whom it is named, is the chairman of the travel company Trailfinders Ltd. The charity receives a donation from the company each year and makes very large grants to a few organisations. Grants are only made for research purposes.Â

Notes for editors:

• The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers and celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2004.
• The Alzheimer's Society was recently announced the Medical Journalists' Association Medical Charity of the Year for 2004.
• The Alzheimer's Society is the first organisation to win this award.
• Over 750,000 people in the UK have dementia. More than half have Alzheimer's disease.
• Dementia affects one in 20 people over the age of 65 and one in five over the age of 80.
• There are 18,500 people in the UK under the age of 65 with dementia.
• For information and advice on Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia call the Alzheimer's Society national helpline on 0845 300 0336.
• Our website address is: http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

Press and media enquiries should be directed to the Society's press office on 020 7423 3595.