Scott Mitchell Named People’s Champion Of The Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission

Scott Mitchell, husband of the late Dame Barbara Windsor and Alzheimer’s Research UK Ambassador, has been appointed People’s Champion of the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission.

The announcement was marked during an event at Downing Street, which brought together charities, researchers, investors, industry, NHS leaders and people affected by dementia to celebrate the progress being made in dementia research, and discuss next steps towards making the UK a global leader in the field.

The Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission was first launched in 2021 by the then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in memory of the EastEnders and Carry On legend who died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2020. The initiative, which was campaigned for by over 50,000 Alzheimer’s Research UK supporters, aims to fast-track the development and delivery of new medicines for diseases like Alzheimer’s. This includes getting more people taking part in dementia research across the UK.

In his new role, Scott will help to ensure the real, lived experiences of people affected by dementia are front and centre of the Mission. “I am determined their stories, and what they need, will be put at the heart of what the UK is doing – so we get solutions that work, from new clinical trials and tests to spot Alzheimer’s earlier, to improved care,” said Scott. This will involve working closely with the Mission’s Co-Chairs, Hilary Evans – Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Chief Executive – and Prof Nadeem Sarwar.

Welcoming the appointment, Hilary said Scott’s involvement will be a “powerful driving force for change, and people with dementia deserve no less.’’

Scott said: “we still have a long way to go on the mission to beat dementia, but by working together we can and will win.” The appointment comes alongside £6 million in funding to boost clinical trials and innovation. This includes work in Northern Ireland on how artificial intelligence can be used to support dementia diagnosis, and research in Scotland looking at how certain proteins found in blood can help detect the disease early.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said that she wants to see the Mission drive forward research to unlock the next generation of treatments in Dame Barbara’s memory. “The government challenged G7 nations in 2013 to find new treatments for dementia and I hope we are now on the cusp of a breakthrough, with new drugs set to slow the impact of this terrible condition.’’

The Secretary also added that she is working with the NHS, charities, and the life sciences industry to make sure that the health service is ready to roll out new treatments safely and rapidly, should they be approved for use in Great Britain. Two early-Alzheimer’s drugs, lecanemab and donanemab, are currently being reviewed by UK medicines regulatory bodies for their safety and efficacy, with decisions expected over the coming months.

According to Evans, the rapid progress being made in dementia research means society is in “the strongest position yet” to bring an end to the devastation of dementia. “Now we must keep up this momentum and ensure the UK is at the forefront of tackling dementia for years to come’’ she said.