Autumn Statement: David Cameron announces new fund to tackle dementia

The Prime Minister says that the Autumn Statement will contain a pledge to provide £15 million for the fight against dementia.

A new multi-million pound fund to tackle dementia will be announced in this week’s Autumn Statement, David Cameron has said, as he warned that the disease is “one of the greatest enemies of humanity”.

The Prime Minister said that George Osborne, the Chancellor, will use Wednesday’s statement to announce a £15million fund to help find innovative new cures for the disease.

Mr Cameron said that the Government must “play our part in defeating” dementia in the coming years.

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David Cameron says the cabinet are to become Dementia Friends

David Cameron has revealed to BBC Radio Oxford that the entire cabinet has committed to becoming Dementia Friends.

It is an initiative launched to improve knowledge of dementia by spreading awareness of what living with the condition is like, and the difference people can make to those with the illness living in communities.

He also told Kat Orman that he saw Lady Thatcher go from operating at the height of her powers to slowly slip away with the disease.

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Dementia sufferers are ‘cut adrift’ after diagnosis warning

Dementia patients are being “cut adrift” after diagnosis, a charity has warned, with one patient claiming they received no more support than if they had been suffering tonsillitis.

The Alzheimer’s Society said there was a “desperate shortage” of information for people following diagnosis, and raised concerns that some patients were receiving news of their condition in hurried, insensitive consultations.

In a survey of nearly 400 people affected by dementia, the charity found one in five were given no information or support after diagnosis, while 90 per cent said they were “dissatisfied” with the amount of advice they received about their condition and support services. The charity also warned over diagnosis rates for dementia, which remain “unacceptably” low, despite small rises since David Cameron made improved dementia diagnosis a priority two years ago.

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PM boosts dementia research as early onset could be three times more common than thought

Early onset dementia could be three times more common than had been thought.

Some 17,000 under-65s are recognised to suffer from it and even those in their 20s can become victims.

The figures, from the Alzheimer’s Society, come as charities say another 34,000 may have been misdiagnosed or not suspect they have dementia.

It is often confused with depression or the menopause.The warning comes as Prime Minister David Cameron announced a £100million boost for dementia research this week in partnership with ­Alzheimer’s Research UK.

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