The UK government has unveiled the next phase of its plan of attack on dementia, pledging millions for research into the condition and an international institute to help drive progress on new treatments.
More than £300 million will be streamed by the government into UK research a
nd medical innovation in the area, while a separate multi-million pound fund will be launched “within weeks” to set up a large-scale, international investment scheme under which the private, public and philanthropic sectors can unite to finance promising promising research projects.
The government also said that an international dementia institute will be established in England within five years in a drive to make the UK a world leader for research into the illness and medical trials, and that a new online and telephone service will be launched this week to facilitate people taking part in studies.
On the front-line, all 1.3 million NHS staff will be required to undergo dementia training, while initial assessments in primary care will take place in an average of six weeks to help boost diagnosis rates. And in the community, the government is calling for three million more ‘dementia friends’ to help better support people with the conditions.
“It is vital that we continue to energise a movement across society to improve the lives of people with dementia and that research into the condition continues to be a priority,” said Hilary Evans, Charity Director, Alzheimer’s Research UK, commenting on the plans.
