New research to reveal state of dementia

The London School of Economics and King's College London report, Dementia UK, commissioned by the Alzheimer's Society, will provide new evidence of the human and economic cost of dementia.

The national conference, entitled 'The rising cost of dementia in the UK - Are we prepared?' will expose the true state of dementia in the UK with key speakers from the London School of Economics and Alzheimer's Society announcing the report findings.

Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, says,

'By 2050 the number of people with dementia in the UK will double to 1.8 million. This will place an intolerable strain on our health and social care system unless we act now.

This vital research will give more accurate evidence of the impact of dementia in the UK, the cost of dementia to individuals and the state, and projections on the rising cost of care.

It will challenge government and the health and social care industry to recognise the full implications of dementia today and into the future. Dementia is one of the UK's most serious health issues and cannot be ignored.'

As well as releasing the report findings, the conference boasts a line-up of speakers from the NHS and social care, and people with first hand experience of dementia.

The conference takes place at Savoy Place, London, on 27 February 2007 and is sponsored by Barchester Healthcare.

For more information, contact Gayle Wing and Jessica Mangold, Alzheimer's Society press office.

Notes for editors

• During the appeals against its decision on drug treatments NICE refused to budge on its rigid rules governing access to treatments. Yet in the separate Dementia Care Guidelines these rules are softened to allow clinicians to use their judgment to decide who is in the moderate stages and should be prescribed drugs.
• The Guidelines Development Group has publicly condemned the decision to severely restrict the use of Alzheimer's drug treatments. See http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=324234 NICE guidance will apply in England and Wales and could possibly be implemented in Northern Ireland.
• On Friday 17 November, one of the drug manufacturers announced that it will be seeking a Judicial Review against NICE's decision to restrict access to Alzheimer's drug treatments.
• The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers.
• 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/.