Too many people still think dementia is just a natural part of ageing, which means they do not realise that it is something we may, one day, overcome.
As we near World Alzheimer’s Day on 21st September, Craig Mackinlay MP is supporting Alzheimer’s Research UK’s #ShareTheOrange campaign to help raise awareness and improve understanding of the diseases that cause dementia.
Dementia is the world’s greatest medical challenge, not only for the individuals affected and their families, but for society as a whole. Over 850,000 people in the UK have dementia, and the condition has an economic impact in the UK of over £26bn a year – more than cancer and heart disease combined.
Current treatments can help some people with dementia, alleviating some of the symptoms for a time. But the reality is that no treatment currently exists to slow or halt the diseases that cause dementia.
Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading dementia research charity and last year pledged to commit a landmark £250m of funding towards pioneering medical research into the condition by 2025.
Craig Mackinlay MP, commented:
“Progress in the care, support and treatment of people with dementia has been made, with more people receiving a diagnosis of dementia than ever before.
“Over 660,000 NHS staff have received dementia training with further training opportunities rolled out to all NHS staff by the end of 2018, and over 100,000 social care workers have received some form of dementia awareness training.
“But there is always more to do, which is why, as we approach World Alzheimer’s Day on 21st September, I want to lend my support to Alzheimer’s Research UK #ShareTheOrange campaign to help increase understanding of dementia among the wider public.
“We need to challenge fatalism around dementia – we don’t have to accept it as part of later life. We also have to ensure that people with dementia are supported to live well, including the 1698 people with the condition in my South Thanet constituency. I will continue to speak up in support of Dementia research and care wherever possible.”
Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“Research has made major breakthroughs in other disease areas in recent years and we can do the same for the diseases, like Alzheimer’s, that cause dementia. Our scientists are already making vital discoveries and with more support for their work, we can turn discoveries into life-changing breakthroughs more quickly.”
“We’re calling on the public to #ShareTheOrange, turn fatalism into hope and make dementia the next big medical success story by backing Alzheimer’s Research UK’s world-leading research.”
You can watch the latest film in Alzheimer’s Research UK’s award-winning #ShareTheOrange campaign, featuring Samuel L. Jackson, here.