Call to increase funding for Alzheimer’s research

Published: 2010-12-01

A report has called for funding into Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias to “a level proportionate to the economic burden of the condition.” According to the study by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), the global cost of treating dementia is set to reach Euros 435 billion this year, or 1% of worldwide gross domestic product.

Moreover, the number of people affected is doubling every 20 years. However, while more patients are affected by dementia than either cancer or heart disease, the condition attracts far less research funding than either.

“World governments are woefully unprepared for the social and economic disruptions this disease will cause”, commented Ms Daisy Acosta, ADI’s Chairman. Dementia is “the single most significant health and social crisis of the 21st century”, she added.

www.alz.co.uk