I am pleased that the Prime Minister has made his clear his support for tackling dementia, announcing £1.6 billion in funding as part of a 'dementia moonshot' to find a cure for this awful disease.
Alzheimer's Research UK have raised concerns about the impact that COVID-19 has had on medical research charities with members of the Association of Medical Research Charities predicting a 41 per cent decrease in their medical research spend over the next year. The impact of this financial uncertainty was reflected in a recent survey Alzheimer’s Research UK conducted with their researchers, in which they found that 1 in 3 dementia scientists are considering leaving dementia research due to COVID-19.
Additionally, the catastrophic impact of COVID-19 on people with dementia means that the need for additional investment has never been more urgent. A quarter of people who have died from COVID-19 also had dementia, and those with the condition are dying in greater numbers than in normal times with a 52 per cent increase in excess deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
I have signed Alzheimer's Research UK's pledge to support the doubling of research funding into dementia, as set out in the 2019 Conservative Party Manifesto and, on behalf of the many residents who have contacted with concerns about dementia care, I have written to the Chancellor to ask for his reassurances on this point. You can find a copy of my letter below, and I will update as soon as I hear back.
Find out more about the work of Alzheimer's Research UK, where you can also see the MP Pledge Wall.