Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, has backed a call from the Brexit Health Alliance for the government to protect patients’ interests in Brexit negotiations.
In dementia research, the UK is currently leading the way with recent statistics showing the country’s research productivity has almost doubled over six years, compared to much smaller increases in other countries. At the same time, the number of UK dementia publications that are internationally collaborative have increased. But Alzheimer’s Research UK has already outlined concerns that if this collaborative effort is threatened, momentum could be lost, leading to unnecessary delays in the search for much-needed treatments.
Dr Alison Evans, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, said: “It’s vital that people with dementia do not lose out as we negotiate our exit from the European Union. Research offers our best hope for transforming the treatments we can offer to people with dementia, and if medical research is to continue to thrive we must protect cross-border collaborations that are helping to speed up our efforts. New breakthroughs in research must reach the people who need them quickly, and co-operation on issues such as regulation of new treatments is crucial to ensure people with dementia in the UK can benefit from advances in medicine. Alzheimer’s Research UK backs today’s call and would urge the government to ensure that these issues are firmly on the table during Brexit negotiations.” Ends
For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact Kirsty Marais, Communications Manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK on 0300 111 5 666, 07826 559233 or email press@alzheimersresearchuk.org
Notes to editors:
• Ref: paper title by author et al is published on date in journal.
• Our animation “What is dementia?” explains the essentials of dementia and the diseases that cause it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HobxLbPhrMc
• Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading charity specialising in finding preventions, treatments and a cure for dementia.
• To help us defeat dementia, donate today by visiting www.alzheimersresearchuk.org or calling 0300 111 5555.
• We are currently supporting dementia research projects worth over £27 million in leading Universities across the UK.
• Our Defeat Dementia campaign, a pledge to raise £100 million in five years to grow the research field and accelerate progress towards new treatments and preventions, was announced by David Cameron at the G8 legacy event on 19 June 2014. For more information visit www.dementiablog.org/defeat-dementia
