Alzheimer's Society Comment On The 18 Million Pounds Injection Into Health Research, Announced By The Department Of Health Today

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Article Date: 19 Sep 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Today's investment into dementia research is extremely welcome. Dementia research is drastically under funded in the UK.

Today's investment into dementia research is extremely welcome. Dementia research is drastically under funded in the UK. Only £11 is spent on dementia research per person with the condition in the UK, compared to £289 per person with cancer.

However, dementia currently costs the UK £17 billion a year and there is no cure on the horizon. 1 in 3 people over 65 will die with dementia. We need to dramatically increase our investment in research if we are to win the fight against this devastating condition.

Neil Hunt
Chief Executive

Notes

- The new NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Collaborations for Health Research and Care in Nottinghamshire and in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough will start work on 1st October 2008.

- 1 in 3 people over 65 will die with dementia.

- 700,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In less than 20 years nearly a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051.

- Alzheimer's Society campaigns for and champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions who care for them. Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

- As a charity, Alzheimer's Society needs to raise money to care for people today and to find a cure for tomorrow. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting http://www.alzheimers.org.uk

Alzheimer's Society