Experts say spend more on dementia or expect a crisis

Jun 18 2008

Scientists in both Australia and Britain are calling for more funding for dementia in order to avert a health care crisis in the future.

According to a new report Australia needs $36 million a year to tackle the growing dementia epidemic, while in Britain top scientists are predicting that the rise in dementia over the next two decades could destroy the National Health Service (NHS).

Scientific researcher Professor Henry Brodaty says Australia needs to increase funding in order to tackle the growing dementia epidemic and is recommending that dementia be made a national health priority.

Professor Brodaty who is the co-author of the report says there are currently more than 200,000 people with dementia, but the number could reach 730,000 by 2050.

He says Australia is ageing, the aged are ageing and the old are getting older and some thought must be given to the best way to tackle the problem.

Professor Brodaty says more must be spent on research than is currently spent - as compared to other chronic conditions, dementia falls well below and only a a fraction is being spent compared to other conditions.

Experts in Britain say an ageing population means the burden of dementia will double to £35billion-a-year within 20 years and more should be spent on research into new treatments for dementia.

The top experts, eleven in all, claim only 3% of the annual NHS research budget is aimed at dementia and the NHS "may well be unsustainable" as the number of people with dementia increases.

Organisations representing dementia suggest that should under investment continue the economic consequences arising from dementia care costs will be catastrophic.

Experts say there is no cure for dementia and unless a major breakthrough in drugs occurs to arrest the course of the illness, there will be a major need for extra care and support.