Nottingham scientists calls for more funding for dementia research

A NOTTINGHAM scientist has called for research into dementia to become a national priority, after a new survey showed that people fear the condition more than cancer or death.

Alzheimer's Research UK polled over 2,000 people nationwide and found that 31 per cent of respondents feared dementia the most, while 27 per cent feared cancer and 18 per cent feared death.

Professor Kevin Morgan, of the University of Nottingham, is Scientific Adviser for Alzheimer's Research UK and coordinator for the charity's Nottingham Network.

He said: "There are over 9,000 people in Nottingham affected by dementia, and if we are to find effective treatments that are so urgently needed, dementia research must be made a national priority.

"Dementia is not a normal part of ageing – it is caused by brain diseases that we can beat, but we need more investment in the research that will give us answers."

Dementia research funding is far behind spending on other serious diseases - a Thomson Reuters Evidence report has shown that for every UK scientist working on dementia research, six work on cancer.

Alzheimer's Research UK has said that dementia costs the UK economy �23 billion, more than cancer (�12 billion) and heart diseases (�8 billion) combined.

The charity has said dementia poses one of the greatest threats to public health, and that support is needed from charities, the government and the private sector to defeat the disease.

Mick Moody, Alzheimer's Research UK Champion from Nottingham, said: "My wife Elaine was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's when she was 52.

"Five years on, this cruel disease has robbed her of her independence.

"In 2008 and 2009 Elaine ran the London Marathon but today she struggles to walk across the living room without support. "But we try to keep a sense of humour and make the most of every day.

"Words can't describe how much I want a cure for this disease so that other people don't have to suffer."

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