Dementia is more than just memory loss – most people associate dementia with memory loss, but the condition affects people in a wide variety of ways. That might include changes in behaviour, confusion and disorientation, delusions and hallucinations, difficulty communicating, problems judging speeds and distances and even cravings for particular foods. Everyone’s experience of dementia is different.

There are no treatments to stop the diseases that cause dementia – while some treatments can help people to live with their symptoms a little better, there are no treatments that slow or stop diseases like Alzheimer’s. This means that the diseases will continue to get worse over time unless new treatments can be found quickly.

Investment in dementia research is still low – despite a welcome government focus on dementia over the past three years, research into the condition still only receives around three per cent of the government’s medical research budget. Combined government and charity investment in dementia research is seven times lower than cancer research. Raising investment in dementia research to a similar level will help to drive forward much-needed progress towards a cure.

You can help – dementia research desperately needs volunteers. A lack is slowing efforts to find new preventions and treatments. A new service called ‘Join dementia research’ has launched to help people with and without dementia register their interest in taking part in studies in their area. If you or someone you know might be willing to help, you can sign up online by visiting www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk

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