My View: Alzheimer's Research

Thank you to everyone who invited me to Alzheimer’s Research UK’s parliamentary drop-in back in June. I pay tribute to the charity’s vital work, and my thoughts go out to all those affected by dementia, whether facing the condition themselves or caring for a loved one. I know from personal experience what a cruel disease this can be. Timely diagnosis is vital to ensure people can access the treatment and support they need.  

I absolutely agree that we must put Britain at the forefront of transforming treatment for dementia and I share our Government’s commitment to ensure that all dementia patients have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.

I am pleased that our Government is investing in dementia research across all areas. This investment includes our Government’s Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme, which has invested £13 million into three biomarker innovation competitions, with an AI tool designed to improve the accuracy of blood tests for dementia. It also includes up to £50 million funded through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) for the Dementia Trials Network, complemented by the £20 million Dementia Trials Accelerator. The accelerator is designed to position the United Kingdom as the destination of choice for late phase clinical trials in dementia.

On clinical trials, I am pleased that Government funding is already enabling the dementia clinical trials landscape to become more efficient and accessible. I am encouraged by recent data that shows that the average set-up times for commercial interventional clinical trials have reduced from 169 days to 122 days, which marks significant progress on the Government’s target to cut clinical trials set-up times to within 150 days, as proposed in its 10 Year Health Plan for England.

I understand that our Government is working on the first ever Modern Service Framework (MSF) on dementia and frailty, which will deliver rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and in productivity, and will be informed by phase 1 of the independent commission on adult social care led by Baroness Louise Casey, which is expected later this year.

More widely, I also support the components of our Government’s 10 Year Health Plan which will improve care planning and services for dementia patients by introducing co-created care plans to support more joined-up care. Our Government hopes that 95% of those with complex dementia needs will have an agreed care plan in place, whilst ensuring that more people living with dementia can receive care from the comfort of their own homes.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this important issue. Together, we will build a society where every person with dementia receives high-quality care from diagnosis through to the end of life.