'Beating dementia is down to funding' Government told they must give more cash.

LEADING scientists in the North East have said the Government must triple the amount of funding into dementia research.

Prof Rajesh Kalaria and Prof John O'Brien, from Newcastle University, have signed an open letter calling on Government to use today's ministerial summit on dementia research to end years of under-funding.

The professors are two of 31 top UK scientists to have signed the letter asking for a threefold increase in investment into efforts to find new treatments, prevention and cures for Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

The Alzheimer's Research Trust coordinated campaign has the backing of two other charities, the Alzheimer's Society and Parkinson's Disease Society.

The letter reads: "Today the Government will hold a ministerial dementia research summit at the Royal Society. After years of underfunding, it is encouraging that dementia research is receiving serious attention. Within a gen-eration1.4 million people in the UK will live with dementia, costing our economy pounds 50bn per year. Yet for every pound spent on dementia care, a fraction of a penny is spent on research into defeating the condition. Our key weakness is lack of funding, not lack of talent.

"The Government must use this summit to initiate a national dementia research strategy. Most importantly, it must commit to tripling its annual support for dementia research to pounds 96m within five years."

Dementia affects around 700,000 people in the UK, with more than 450,000 people in the country diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Prof Julie Williams, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "Week after week British dementia scientists come a step closer to understanding what causes dementia, and how this might be translated into new treat-ments. The Government has a great opportunity to use today's summit to formulate a national dementia research strategy, offering hope to the 700,000 people in the UK who live with dementia.

"Despite the current squeeze in public finances, upping our investment in dementia research would be prudent. If we can work out how to delay the onset of dementia by five years, we could halve the number of people who die with the condition."

Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "The UK is fortunate to play host to the world's leading dementia scientists. We punch well above our weight in the fight against a disease that afflicts 30 million people worldwide. "Given the pounds 17bn annual cost of dementia care, the Government cannot afford to get its dementia research policy wrong."

ALZHEIMER'S: THE FACTS

ALZHEIMER'S disease affects around 450,000 people in the UK. It is named after German neurologist Alois Alzheimer, who first described it as a physical disease affecting the brain, which leads to the death of brain cells. Alzheimer's is a progressive disease. Symptoms in the early stages include lapses of memory and problems finding the right words. But as the disease progresses, sufferers can become confused, and forget the names of people and places, and experience mood swings and memory loss.

Dementia affects one in 14 people over 65 and one in six over 80.

FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALZHEIMER'S SUFFERERS

PENSIONER Joe Grant has been fighting for the rights of Alzheimer's sufferers over recent months.

Mr Grant, 80, of South Shields, is the sole carer of his wife Blanche, 76, who is in the advanced stages of dementia.

He feels strongly that there is a gap in the services available to Alzheimer's and dementia sufferers in his area and he has been battling for the rights of his wife and other dementia victims to secure their care and safety.

He said more needed to be done to help those with the condition, and their families. He said: "I think it's great many leading scientists have put their names to the open letter as Government has to do more to help those living with the condition.

"More money does need to be given to fund research into Alzheimer's and dementia as the amount of people diagnosed with the condition is rising all the time.

"I would also like to see Government put more money towards the day care centres that helps those with dementia.

"Dementia is an increasing problem and more research must be done to find new treatments, prevention and cures. It's time Government took notice of what the scientists are saying."

CAPTION(S):

INVESTIGATING AND LEARNING Every British dementia scientists come a step closer to understanding what causes dementia.