Calls for government to prioritise dementia research as diagnosis set to double by 2050

Alzheimer’s Research UK and Dementia UK are calling on the government to prioritise dementia research, in the wake of a new report revealing the number of people with the condition in the UK and across Europe will double by 2050.

According to the report, the number of people with dementia in the UK is set to rise to nearly two million by 2050, while in Europe the number is expected to rise to over 16 million.

Following the Conservatives’ 2019 election pledge to double dementia research funding, Alzheimer’s Research UK launched its Delivering the Dementia Moonshot report, outlining six priority areas for the UK government’s research funding.

These priorities are:

• To find ways to detect the diseases that cause dementia 10-15 years earlier and to broaden the search for new treatments.

• Intervene with those most at risk of developing dementia.

• Make the UK the best place to conduct clinical dementia research.

• Further our understanding of dementia risk reduction and prevention and dementia in the context of multimorbidities.

• Find ways to more effectively validate novel targets in early drug development to maximise chances of successful clinical trials

• Expand research infrastructure to maintain the UK’s position as a world leader in dementia research.

To read more visit the homecare.co.uk website