Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies met the Alzheimer’s Society at the Conservative Party Conference this week to discuss the need to ensure dementia is always a priority.
This year, Alzheimer’s Society’s conference stand emphasised the striking fact that dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, with one in three people born in the UK today set to develop dementia in their lifetime.
Alzheimer’s Society also highlighted how dementia costs the UK £34.7bn a year, a figure that will rise to £94.1bn by 2040. By this same year, 1.6m people are expected to be living with dementia in the UK.
James, who is a Dementia Research Champion and a former clinical champion for dementia, said:
“Currently in Wales, around half of people with dementia are without a diagnosis, compared to a third of people with dementia in England and Northern Ireland.
"Providing a diagnosis to individuals is pivotal to helping to ensure that they receive the necessary support. Early diagnosis is also critical when it comes to ensuring a sufficient cohort for clinical trials.
“Research from Alzheimer’s Society shows some people don’t seek a dementia diagnosis because they think memory loss is just part of getting old, fail to recognise the signs of dementia, or are in denial about their symptoms, or may also face delays once they have tried to find help.
"Though the thought of diagnosis can be daunting, over nine in 10 people with dementia say they benefited from getting a diagnosis, for example by helping them come to terms with it or plan for the future. An early diagnosis also means they can access drugs to slow the disease down.”
With exciting new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease in the pipeline, James also discussed with Alzheimer’s Society the need for action now to ensure people living with dementia can access these drugs as soon as they reach the UK market.
James added:
“Dementia is the greatest long term health challenge we face in the UK, so I am extremely pleased that progress is being made when it comes to new treatments. We need to ensure that they can be accessed by people from all parts of the UK.
“It is also important that we keep supporting Alzheimer’s Society so that we can find a cure for this heartbreaking condition, which devastates lives. With 88% of people with dementia facing comorbidities, a cure would ultimately help to simplify care for hundreds of thousands of older people. To find a cure though, it is vitally important that clinical trials are supported.
“If you are worried that you or a loved one may have dementia, you should contact Alzheimer’s Society for advice and support.”
James White, Head of National Influencing at Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“We thank James for engaging with us at Conference, and pledging to support us to make dementia a priority.
"With one in three people born in the UK today expected to develop dementia in their lifetime, it’s vital that politicians prioritise tackling this disease. This means driving up diagnosis rates, reforming the social care system and bolstering dementia research to provide help and hope for everyone affected by dementia.”
Support and more information about a diagnosis is just a phone call or a click away. Visit alzheimers.org.uk/memoryloss or call Alzheimer’s Society on 0333 150 3456 [0330 094 7400 Welsh-speaking number] For callers who do not have English as their language of choice, Alzheimer’s Society can arrange a simultaneous language translation service.
