Government annoucs £22million to boost dementia research

The money, part of the National Institute for Health Research's 'themed dementia call', will fund projects  into a range of areas including improving  hospital care for people with dementia and exploring  the use of diabetes drugs to treat the condition.  Nearly £14million of the funding announced today is going to projects being delivered in conjunction with Alzheimer’s Society.

Government spending on dementia research will be boosted by two thirds thanks to a £22million cash injection announced by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt today (20 December 2012). The money, part of the National Institute for Health Research's 'themed dementia call', will fund projects  into a range of areas including improving  hospital care for people with dementia and exploring  the use of diabetes drugs to treat the condition.  Nearly £14million of the funding announced today is going to projects being delivered in conjunction with Alzheimer’s Society.

The landmark announcement comes as a significant boost to efforts to tackle dementia, a progressive condition which affects 800,000 people and has no cure. Dementia costs the economy more than heart disease and stroke but currently receives far less funding than other conditions. There are currently 60 times more clinical trials for cancer than for Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.

Projects which Alzheimer's Society is helping to deliver include:

• A £2million study by academics at the University of East Anglia to radically improve hospital care for people with dementia.
• £1.4million in funding for a University of Bristol study into using a commonly available drug for high blood pressure as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
• £2.4million towards research into earlier diagnosis and rehabilitation of those with Alzheimer's disease led by Bangor University.
• £900,000 funding into improving management of pain for people with dementia.

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive at Alzheimer's Society said:

'Dementia is the greatest health and social care challenge of our time and defeating it needs to be a priority for society. As it stands, there are currently more clinical trials into hayfever than there are into some of the most common forms of dementia.

'One in three people over the age of 65 will develop dementia. We need an all out fightback, the likes of which we have seen against cancer over the last 50 years. This funding will give hope to the 800,000 people living with dementia and boost the efforts Alzheimer's Society is already making to find a cure for the condition.'

Notes to editors:

• One in three people over 65 will develop with dementia
• Alzheimer's Society research shows that 800,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than ten years a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051
• According to www.clinicaltrials.gov   there are currently 23 phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials for hay fever. By contrast there are 14 trials for vascular dementia and 3 trials for frontotemporal dementia.
• Alzheimer’s Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them
• Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Alzheimer's Society has a plan to deal with dementia. Help us support people to live well today and fight for a world without dementia tomorrow. We rely on voluntary donations to continue our vital work. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting alzheimers.org.uk
• Alzheimer's Society provides a National Dementia Helpline, the number is 0300 222 11 22 or visit alzheimers.org.uk