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| Dementia burden 'could break NHS' | Dementia burden 'could break NHS' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The predicted rise in dementia over the next two decades could destroy the NHS, say top scientists in an open letter. | The predicted rise in dementia over the next two decades could destroy the NHS, say top scientists in an open letter. |
| An ageing population means the burden of dementia on the UK will double to £35bn-a-year within 20 years. | An ageing population means the burden of dementia on the UK will double to £35bn-a-year within 20 years. |
| They told Health Secretary Alan Johnson that more should be spent researching new treatments for Alzheimer's disease. | They told Health Secretary Alan Johnson that more should be spent researching new treatments for Alzheimer's disease. |
| The 11 specialists claimed only 3% of the annual NHS research budget was aimed at dementia. But the government said it was looking to improve care. | The 11 specialists claimed only 3% of the annual NHS research budget was aimed at dementia. But the government said it was looking to improve care. |
| As the NHS turns 60, the question isn't whether it will last a further 60 years, but if it can survive the next 20 Open letter to Health Secretary Alan Johnson | As the NHS turns 60, the question isn't whether it will last a further 60 years, but if it can survive the next 20 Open letter to Health Secretary Alan Johnson |
| The open letter to Mr Johnson says that the NHS "may well be unsustainable" as the number of people with dementia increases. | The open letter to Mr Johnson says that the NHS "may well be unsustainable" as the number of people with dementia increases. |
| They wrote: "As the NHS turns 60, the question isn't whether it will last a further 60 years, but if it can survive the next 20. | They wrote: "As the NHS turns 60, the question isn't whether it will last a further 60 years, but if it can survive the next 20. |
| "The government must greatly increase dementia research now." | "The government must greatly increase dementia research now." |
| The signatories included Professor Simon Lovestone, from King's College London, Professor Nick Fox, from University College London, and Professor John Mayer, from Nottingham University. | The signatories included Professor Simon Lovestone, from King's College London, Professor Nick Fox, from University College London, and Professor John Mayer, from Nottingham University. |
| National strategy | National strategy |
| Rebecca Wood, the chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said that a quarter of the Department of Health's £700m research and development money was spent on cancer research, more than six times the figure received by dementia researchers. | Rebecca Wood, the chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said that a quarter of the Department of Health's £700m research and development money was spent on cancer research, more than six times the figure received by dementia researchers. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| "If underinvestment persists, the economic consequences arising from dementia care costs will be catastrophic." | "If underinvestment persists, the economic consequences arising from dementia care costs will be catastrophic." |
| A spokesman for the King's Fund, whose recent report predicted the doubling of costs for dementia care, said: "There is no cure for dementia. | A spokesman for the King's Fund, whose recent report predicted the doubling of costs for dementia care, said: "There is no cure for dementia. |
| "Unless there is a major breakthrough in drugs to arrest the course of this illness, there will be a great need for extra care and support, some of it quite intense." | "Unless there is a major breakthrough in drugs to arrest the course of this illness, there will be a great need for extra care and support, some of it quite intense." |
| But a Department of Health spokesman said that the first ever "National Dementia Strategy", which the government is currently working on, would improve early diagnosis, treatment and care. | But a Department of Health spokesman said that the first ever "National Dementia Strategy", which the government is currently working on, would improve early diagnosis, treatment and care. |
| She said that "significant funding" had already been made in dementia research, with the department investing £20m over five years from 2006 in a national research network on dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. | She said that "significant funding" had already been made in dementia research, with the department investing £20m over five years from 2006 in a national research network on dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. |