A world without dementia
Alzheimer’s Australia is seeking an investment in the 2013-14 federal Budget, of $200 million over five years for dementia research, with the aim of reducing the number of people with dementia in 2050 by one third. Ita Buttrose, national president of Alzheimer’s Australia, said compared to other chronic diseases, dementia research is “grossly underfunded”.
Alzheimer’s Australia is seeking an investment in the 2013-14 federal Budget, of $200 million over five years for dementia research, with the aim of reducing the number of people with dementia in 2050 by one third.
Ita Buttrose, national president of Alzheimer’s Australia, said compared to other chronic diseases, dementia research is” grossly underfunded”.
“Yet research funding is vital. It is the key to developing new treatments and identifying ways to reduce the risk of developing dementia,” she said.
Ms Buttrose’s comments came after the official launch of the Fight Dementia Campaign: Towards a World Without Dementia last week.
“If researchers had the funds to develop new interventions to delay the onset of dementia by just five years, the number of people with dementia in Australia in 2050 would be reduced by one third.
“If we can delay onset of dementia for long enough, many Australians will have a chance to live a dementia-free life.”
Since the launch of the Fight Dementia Campaign in October last year, Alzheimer’s Australia has been successful in advocating for landmark changes to dementia policy.
Glenn Rees, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Australia, said many of the campaign’s priorities were addressed as part of the Living Longer. Living Better Aged Care Reform package announced in April this year.
“However, funding for dementia research has been overlooked. Dementia is expected to be the third greatest cost to the health system within 20 years. Investment in health and medical research is the best way to address these future costs,” he said.
Mr Rees said he remained optimistic the campaign would be as successful in the 2013-14 federal Budget as it was in this year’s federal Budget.
“I also anticipate that we will continue to receive bipartisan support. This is the only way Australia has a chance at long-term policy change and at working towards a World Without Dementia,” he added.
For more information about the Fight Dementia Campaign: Towards a World Without Dementia, go to www.campaign.fightdementia.org.au
