The World Dementia Council, formed in the wake of the G8 dementia summit to help address the global dementia crisis, has welcomed new members and agreed priorities for action at a meeting in London this week. The re-formed Council, which was originally set up by the UK government, has now become an independent body tasked with bringing together global leaders and the research community in a collaborative effort to tackle the condition.
Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, said:
“The fight against dementia must be a global effort, and over the past two years the World Dementia Council has taken important steps to help boost research into the condition. At Alzheimer’s Research UK we have been pleased to help move forward the Council’s work on speeding up treatment development, and we are delighted to see this renewed commitment to continued action. Research has the power to defeat dementia, and we must ensure the right environment exists for research to thrive and for new treatments to be made available to the people who need them. The World Dementia Council has helped build real momentum, now the global community must seize on that momentum to help bring about the breakthroughs we desperately need.”
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For further information, or to speak with Hilary Evans, please contact Kirsty Marais, Media and Communications Manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK on 07826 559233 or email press@alzheimersresearchuk.org
Notes to editors:
• Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading charity specialising in finding preventions, treatments and a cure for dementia.
• We rely on donations to fund our vital dementia research. 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 £33 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 the Prime Minister at the G8 legacy event on 19 June 2014. For more information visit www.dementiablog.org/defeat-dementia
