While the recent increases in funding for dementia research and charity-led initiatives are expanding capacity in the UK dementia research landscape, we see clear evidence that long term sustained investment is required to result in a greater step change in research capacity for dementia research as has been the case with other diseases.
Source: Luengo-Fernandez, R. & Landeiro, F. (in preparation). The Economic Burden of Dementia in the UK.
Source: Luengo-Fernandez R, Leal J, Gray A. UK research spend in 2008 and 2012: comparing stroke, cancer, coronary heart disease and dementia. BMJ Open 2015;5: e006648. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2014-006648
Source: Alzheimer’s Research UK Annual Review, Alzheimer’s Society Annual Review, Association of Medical Research Charities Research Expenditure June 2017
Source: Luengo-Fernandez, R. & Landeiro, F. (in preparation). The Economic Burden of Dementia in the UK.
Dementia costs the health and social care sector more than cancer and heart disease combined, and receives a disproportionately low amount of research investment.
This graph shows the amount of funding received for every £1 million in costs for cancer, dementia and coronary heart disease.
Source: Luengo-Fernandez R et al (2015) UK research spend in 2008 and 2012: comparing stroke, cancer, coronary heart disease and dementia BMJ Open 2015;5:e006648. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006648