This World Alzheimer’s Month, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP is supporting Alzheimer’s Research UK to encourage more people with and without dementia to register to take part in clinical trials across the nation, and ultimately find life-changing treatments sooner.
Throughout September, Caroline will be taking action in her role as a Dementia Research Champion, as new figures reveal significantly fewer people are taking part in dementia research, compared to those for other leading health conditions in England.
In 2020-21, just 61 volunteers were recruited to late-stage dementia drug trials supported by the NIHR Clinical Trial Network –100 times fewer than cancer, and 10 times fewer than either stroke or coronary heart disease.
There are nearly one million people in the UK living with dementia, with 1512 estimated to be living with the condition in Gosport. Yet there are currently no treatments available in the UK that slow down or stop the diseases that cause dementia, such as Alzheimer’s.
Taking part in dementia research is needed if life-changing treatments are to be discovered and encourages people living in Gosport to register with Join Dementia Research - the service which matches people to dementia studies in the UK.
Commenting, Dame Caroline said:
“I’m proud to be a Dementia Research Champion and encourage people from all backgrounds to participate in dementia trials. Research has the power to transform the lives of everyone affected by dementia – but it will take all of us to bring about the life-changing treatments people desperately need.
“Dementia is among the greatest long term health challenge we face in the UK, it’s something that has impacted my own family as well as many thousands of others, which is why I became a Dementia Champion.”
David Thomas, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“We’re delighted to have the support of Caroline Dinenage on such an important issue. People with dementia need MPs like Caroline who will champion research in parliament and signpost the ways in which the public can get involved in the search for life-changing dementia treatments.
We know the public appetite for taking part in research has never been greater – with more than two-thirds of people in the UK reporting a willingness to get involved in dementia research, yet just 2% of people living with dementia are registered with Join Dementia Research.
We would urge people with or without dementia who are interested in taking part in research, to register through Join Dementia Research online or by calling 0300 111 5 111.”
ENDS
For more information please contact [email protected].
