DiagnosticsUK Experts Call For More Government Backing For Dementia Research
Over 30 of the UK"s leading scientists have signed an open letter to the government calling for more public money to back research into dementia,
warning that UK"s weakness was "lack of funding, not lack of talent" and in order to make up for "years of underfunding" there should be a threefold
increase in investment.
There are 700,000 people living with Alzheimer"s and other dementias in the UK today. Worldwide the figure is around 30 million people.
Sent to coincide with a ministerial summit on dementia held yesterday, 21 July, at the Royal Society, the letter says that within a generation there will
be 1.4 million people living with dementia in the UK, at an annual cost to the economy of 50 billion pounds a year.
"Yet for every pound spent on dementia care, a fraction of a penny is spent on research into defeating the condition," reads the letter, which urges
ministers to use the summit to initiate a national dementia research strategy and increase funding to find new treatments, preventions and cures for
Alzheimer"s and other dementias.
"Most importantly, it must commit to tripling its annual support for dementia research to ÷£96 million within five years," says the letter, warning
that:
"If the government squanders this opportunity, we will all pay the price."
The research summit is hosted by health minister Phil Hope and chaired by Baroness Sally Greengross. It brings together dozens of leading scientists
and people affected by dementia as the government considers changing its approach to dementia research.
It is thought that the summit, which has been organized by the Medical Research Council and Department of Health is a response to criticism levied at
the goverment from campaigners, scientists and charities about the low level of public funding for dementia, despite the increase in prevalence in the
UK and worldwide.
Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer"s Research Trust, told the press the day before the Tuesday summit that:
"The UK is fortunate to play host to the world"s leading dementia scientists."
"Given the 17 billion pounds annual cost of dementia care, the government cannot afford to get its dementia research policy wrong," she
urged.
The letter is part of a campaign coordinated by the UK"s Alzheimer"s Research Trust and backed by two other charities: the Alzheimer"s Society and the
Parkinson"s Disease Society.
The letter is signed by: Prof Julie Williams of the Alzheimer"s Research Trust, Prof Clive Ballard of the Alzheimer"s Society, Dr Kieran Breen of the
Parkinson"s Disease Society, Prof John Hardy of the UCL Institute of Neurology, Prof Peter St George-Hyslop of the University of Cambridge, Prof
Simon Lovestone of the Institute of Psychiatry at King"s College London, Prof Robin Jacoby of the University of Oxford, Prof Alistair Burns of the
University of Manchester, Prof David Brooks of Imperial College London, Prof Seth Love of the University of Bristol, and 21 others.
Lead signatory Prof Julie Williams, who is Chief Scientific Adviser to the Alzheimer"s Research Trust told the press on Monday that the government
had a great opportunity to use the summit to develop a national dementia research strategy:
"Week after week British dementia scientists come a step closer to understanding what causes dementia, and how this might be translated into new
treatments."
"Despite the current squeeze in public finances, upping our investment in dementia research would be prudent," she urged, adding that:
"If we can work out how to delay the onset of dementia by five years, we could halve the number of people who die with the condition."
Prof John Hardy FRS, Scientific Adviser to the Alzheimer"s Research Trust, said he signed the letter because dementia research has been neglected for
too long:
"Dementia research receives eight times less government support than cancer research, yet dementia care costs our economy more than cancer, heart
disease and stroke combined", said Hardy, explaining that "spending millions now could save billions later".
"We are fortunate to have such a strong science base in the UK -- and the NHS offers unique opportunities to trial new treatments-- yet we are missing
the chance to exploit this immense potential," he added.
The government has responded by saying in England there already is strong investment in dementia research.
Phil Hope, the Minister of State for Care Services, told the BBC that:
"By 2011, the total National Institute for Health Research budget for all health science will be nearly ÷£1bn."
"We now need to increase the number of successful dementia research proposals to access to this investment," he added.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, Hope urged researchers to bring forward grant applications.
"Research is the key to developing new treatments, transforming care and finding a cure for this devastating condition," said Hope, describing the
summit as "a vital step towards a more coordinated approach to research".
"Our National Dementia Strategy will help people live well with dementia by improving diagnosis, care and support," he added.
s: Alzheimer"s Research Trust, BBC, Daily Mail.
Written by: Catharine Paddock, PhD
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