Sign our petition for government to double its investment in dementia research

Dame Harriet Walter photo by Georgia Oetker, Stephen Fry photo by Alex Wallace Photography, Brian Cox photo by David Ho, Dame Judi Dench photo by Caroline Bonarde Ucci.

Backed by Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Brian Cox and Dame Harriet Walter, we have launched a petition calling on government to finally deliver on its election promise to double its funding for dementia research.

With almost one million people in the UK living with dementia today, yet no treatments to slow, stop or prevent the diseases that cause it, we don’t have a moment to waste.

So please, sign our petition today and speak up on behalf of everyone affected by dementia.

Why are we calling for this now?

A year has passed since government pledged to boost its investment into dementia research to over £160 million a year.

Yet we have seen no further details on how and when this much-needed funding will be delivered.

It is our role to ensure government does not neglect the promise it made to every single person impacted by dementia, when it vowed to double its own efforts to help find a cure.

Understandably, and rightly so, the government has prioritised its response to COVID-19.

But the virus isn’t our only health challenge and COVID-19 has highlighted why the search for the first life-changing treatment for dementia is so urgent.

Over the past few months, the lives of people with dementia, and their loved ones, have been turned upside down by the pandemic.

Families have been kept apart, people with dementia have seen their symptoms deteriorate at pace, and a quarter of people in England and Wales who have died from COVID-19 also had dementia.

Progress in dementia research has also been put at risk by COVID-19, as there is now less funding for dementia research today than there was when the election promise was made.

We cannot risk going backwards in our efforts to bring about life-changing treatments for dementia. To lose the progress that’s been made would be devastating. But this week’s vaccine news shows just what can be achieved for major health challenges, with the right investment in research.

So, this funding from government is needed now more than ever.

That’s why we’d be so grateful if you added your name to our petition.

Alzheimer’s Research UK would not exist if it wasn’t for the generous, inspiring and dedicated backing of our supporters. You make everything we do possible.

And this is no exception. The more people we have behind this petition, the stronger a signal we can send to government that this vital investment is urgently needed. We believe this pressure will ultimately lead to them delivering on their promise.

More than half of us know someone with dementia today. We know that you, our supporters, are all too aware of the heartbreak this condition causes, and we’re sure many of you will want government to know how important this is to you too.

People with dementia are counting on us. So, please sign our petition and help put dementia research back on track.