R&D Budget Pledge Must Support Dementia Research, Alzheimer’s Research UK Says

Alzheimer’s Research UK has welcomed the Chancellor’s Spring Budget commitment to boost R&D investment to £22 billion a year.

The charity says that it hopes to see part of this funding used to deliver the government’s Dementia Moonshot, so we can bring about the life-changing treatments we need for this condition.

Samantha Benham-Hermetz, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “It’s encouraging to see the government’s promise to boost R&D investment to £22 billion a year and target funding to address the challenges of an ageing population. By investing more in this area than ever before, the UK will attract the best scientific minds and continue to be a world-leader in research.

“We welcome this announcement and urge the government to earmark part of this commitment to support efforts to find life-changing treatments for dementia. We are yet to see how and when the government plans to deliver on its election promises for a ‘Dementia Moonshot’. The Conservatives’ pledge to double government funding for dementia research to over £160m a year cannot come soon enough to support dementia research and save people from the fear, harm and heartbreak this condition causes.”