Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, has welcomed the Labour Party’s manifesto pledge to improve access to future treatments for conditions like dementia.
- Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, has welcomed the Labour Party’s manifesto pledge to improve access to future treatments for conditions like dementia.
- But with no new dementia drugs for nearly two decades, the charity is urging all political parties to make a much greater investment in research into the condition to bring about life-changing treatments sooner.
- There are currently 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia, and this number is set to increase to over one million by 2025. Despite this, there are currently no treatments to slow, stop or prevent the diseases that cause it.
Samantha Benham-Hermetz, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“We’re encouraged that the Labour Party has recognised the need to develop more effective treatments for dementia. The pledge to improve access to newly licensed drugs is a positive step, and it’s important that we carefully consider how this goal can be best achieved. We know that a new dementia treatment would bring significant practical and financial challenges for our health system, so it’s vital that the next government continues to work with Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Dementia Access Taskforce to address these challenges. It’s critical that the government, pharmaceutical industry and charities work together to ensure that people living with dementia can access the treatments they desperately need and deserve.
“At the same time, the next government must substantially increase investment in dementia research, so we can see new treatments as soon as possible. The Labour Party’s target of spending 3% of GDP on research and development by 2030 is a step in the right direction, and within this we would expect to see a meaningful commitment to dementia research. All political parties must commit to spending just 1% of the annual cost of dementia on research – investing £320m a year by 2025 – so we can stop one in three people born today from developing dementia in the future. We would urge whoever forms the next government to make dementia a priority, so we can bring about life-changing treatments and make them available to people without delay.”
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For further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact Emma Hardwick, Senior Communications Officer at Alzheimer’s Research UK on 0300 111 5 666, or email press@alzheimersresearchuk.org
Notes to editors:
· Our animation “What is dementia?” explains the essentials of dementia and the diseases that cause it https://www.youtube.com/watch?
· Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading charity specialising in finding preventions, treatments and a cure for dementia.
· To help make breakthroughs possible, donate today by visiting www.alzheimersresearchuk.org or calling 0300 111 5555.
· We are currently supporting pioneering dementia research projects worth nearly £34 million in leading Universities across the UK.
· How can we challenge perceptions of dementia using only an orange? Find out more at www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/
