Scale of dementia underfunding unveiled

2010-02-12 20:18:59

A new report from the Alzheimer’s Research Trust has revealed the scale on which dementia is underfunded in the UK compared to other conditions such as cancer, heart disease and stroke. The report estimates that around 822,000 people in the UK currently suffer from dementia – 17% more than previously thought – with this figure expected to top one million by 2025. The current cost of dementia to the economy is around £23 billion per year – more than cancer and heart disease combined (£20 billion). Despite this, dementia receives 12 times less funding than cancer research, with £61 spent per year on each patient, compared to £295 each for cancer patients. The report also highlights the massive role played by unpaid carers in looking after dementia sufferers as this group provides £12.4 billion of the £23 billion total cost of care. Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust Rebecca Wood comments in the introduction to the report: ‘If we spend a more proportionate sum on dementia research, we could unleash the full potential of our scientists in their race for a cure. Spending millions now really can save us crippling multi-billion pound care bills later... With enough support, our scientists can defeat dementia and halt this tidal wave of suffering.’