Leading article: Just the start in tackling dementia
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It is absolutely right that the Government is to double the spending on research into dementia. The disease is spreading so fast that there will soon be more than a million sufferers in the UK. And treating Alzheimer's, and similar problems, is already costing the NHS £23bn a year – more than cancer, heart disease or strokes.
The problem is that research into dementia will still be severely underfunded. Spending will rise to just £66m by 2015, in comparison with the £590m invested in cancer research and the £169m in heart disease.
Dementia will be the biggest challenge facing our health and care systems in the 21st century. The Government has taken a step in the right direction. But funds for research are still low and, with any progress around effective treatments likely to take years, more must be done in the meantime to manage the care of the increasing numbers of sufferers.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments