War declared on dementia in major drive to find a cure

A major campaign is being launched today demanding more investment in research into dementia.

Some 850,000 people in the UK live with the illness, including around 70,000 in Yorkshire.

But the condition is expected to take a far greater toll in years to come as the population ages, putting an increasing burden both on carers and the NHS.

In a survey today, the charity Alzheimer’s Research UK found nearly half of over-55s believed dementia was the biggest medical challenge facing the UK.

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Governments commit to advancements in dementia research and care

At the WHO-hosted Ministerial Conference on Global Action Against Dementia the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland today announced that over US$ 100 million will be invested in a pioneering new global Dementia Discovery Fund. Major pharmaceutical companies have committed in principle to investing in promising research efforts for dementia through the project, along with the non governmental organization Alzheimer’s Research UK and the United Kingdom Government. The announcement was welcomed as the type of innovative mechanism that could bring about a breakthrough in treatment.

At this WHO Conference, supported by the Department of Health of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 80 countries joined experts from the research, clinical and advocacy communities to discuss how, collectively, they could move forward action on dementia at the global level.

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Dementia cases flood A&E units

CARE services are “collapsing” as the number of dementia sufferers being taken to accident and emergency has soared by 64 per cent over the past five years, health critics claimed last night.

A Sunday Express inquiry shows 600 emergency admissions or readmissions are being made every day for people with dementia. The numbers have spiralled at an alarming rate with 219,064 admitted in 2011/12 compared with 133,373 in 2007/08.

George McNamara, head of policy at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “This is very worrying. Demands on social ­services mean many local authorities are now only providing crisis or high-level support rather than proper care and prevention.

“This has led to a growing crisis in which emergency services are becoming default rather than a last resort. Financially this is unsustainable.”

Shadow Health ­Secretary Andy Burnham said: “Many ­vulnerable older people have seen home care taken away or are paying much higher charges for care.”

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