The steps YOU can take to help ward off dementia
06/08/2010
Eliminating diabetes and depression, as well as increasing education and fruit and vegetable consumption, are likely to have the biggest impact on reducing levels of dementia in the coming years, should no effective treatment be found, concludes a study published on bmj.com today (6th August).
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Government prioritises dementia research
The new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition has outlined its Programme for Government, promising to “prioritise dementia research within the health research and development budget”. In response, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, has praised the “groundbreaking” programme for offering “hope to the 820,000 people in the UK who live with this devastating set of diseases”.
National Dementia Strategy – ‘far slower than hoped and geographically patchy’
March saw the report by the Committee of Public Accounts on how well (or otherwise) the National Dementia Strategy is working in the UK.
Readers may remember that this was published in February 2009 and was intended to ensure that dementia services across the country were improved overall and brought up to new, agreed standards.
Alzheimer's support campaign aims to cut down the 43 weeks it takes potential sufferers make a doctor’s appointment
A new campaign, entitled 'Memory Problems?', has been launched by ex GMTV presenter, Fiona Phillips today to help people recognise the early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and distinguish these from the normal changes that occur with ageing.
Call for increase in dementia research
In December, we led Mature Times with criticism of reduced Government spending on Alzheimer’s research. In January, the Government replied to those comments. Here, Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research Trust, explains why - while welcoming some Government initiatives - she still feels the issue is not receiving the priority it deserves.
Greater purpose in life associated with reduced Alzheimer's risk – Alzheimer’s Research Trust comment
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in the US have found that people who report having greater purpose in their lives appear less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Their findings are published in the March issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, a JAMA/ Archives journal.
Here Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, responds to the findings.
Research is not in crisis
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Last month we reported on the concerns of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust that Government investment in dementia research had slipped from £32.2 million in 2007/08 to just £29 million in 2008/09 - less than 3% of the total medical research budget. Phil Hope, Minister of State for Care Services responds.
Vital Alzheimer’s research in crisis
At a time when the nation faces an unprecedented rise in numbers of people suffering from dementia, new figures released by Alzheimer’s Research Trust show that Government investment in dementia research actually fell last year by over seven per cent.
Poor dementia care in hospitals "costing lives and hundreds of millions"
People with dementia - who occupy a quarter of all hospital beds - are staying far longer in hospital than people without the condition who go in for the same treatment... costing the NHS millions of pounds a year, according to a new report from The Alzheimer’s Society.
Research funders ‘must explain’ lack of dementia investment
A major new report on the ethics of dementia by the Nuffield Council of Bioethics has criticised the “Cinderella status” of dementia research funding when compared to other major medical challenges. The Alzheimer’s Research Trust, which provided evidence used in the report, described its publication as “a call to arms” for the government.
Labour MPs show support for more dementia research investment
Eighty percent of Labour MPs believe the government should be spending more on dementia research, according to a new poll released today. The results of the ComRes survey are revealed ahead of a dementia research fringe event being hosted by Alzheimer’s Society, the Alzheimer’s Research Trust and Age Concern and Help the Aged at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton today (Monday 28th September).
Celebs share memories for Alzheimer’s research
Sir Michael Parkinson, Tony Robinson and Sir Terry Pratchett are among the celebrities joining party leaders Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg in launching the Alzheimer’s Research Trust campaign, Memories Matter.
Why are we still waiting for 'urgent review' of dementia drugs?
Over a year has passed since the Government promised an 'urgent review' of the prescribing of anti-psychotic drugs for people with dementia. Admiral Nurses, the charity that helps dementia patients and their carers, is asking why we are still waiting.
Dementia research ‘must triple’ warns leading scientists
Some of the UK’s leading scientists have signed an open letter calling on the government to end “years of underfunding” into dementia research. The move, which coincides with today’s ministerial summit on dementia research, calls for a threefold increase in investment into efforts to find new treatments, preventions and cures for Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Dementia research funding must triple, say experts
The UK’s leading dementia charities today (30 June) united with eminent scientists to urge the government to commit to a national dementia research strategy and triple annual investment to £96 million within five years.
