Dementia is a topic of such importance for so many people in the Bexhill and Battle constituency.
 
Lat autumn, I was pleased to meet up with Alzheimer’s Research UK in Parliament to mark World Alzheimer’s Month. The charity, which is dedicated to funding research to understand, diagnose, and treat the diseases that cause dementia, has recently published data showing that nearly 2,500 people in the Bexhill and Battle constituency are currently living with dementia. This equates to 2.34% of the population. Their research also shows that the constituency has the second highest number of residents living with Alzheimer’s of all Parliamentary constituencies in the UK.
 
With dementia now the leading cause of death in the UK, and with an estimated one million people expected to be living with the disease by 2025, research into the disease, and improved diagnosis, are crucial to better understanding the condition and improving outcomes for those affected.

Locally, since becoming MP in 2015, I have championed both better diagnosis and called for more investment into research. You may be interested in the speech I made in the House of Commons during a Parliamentary debate on Dementia Research last year, where I discussed both of these issues. You can also find out more about some of the work I have been involved in here.

Nationally, in memory of the late Dame Barbara Windsor, the Government launched a new mission in 2022 to put this into practice. Research funding for dementia will rise to a total of £160 million a year by 2024, with an additional £95 million being provided to increase clinical trials and research projects. Further, a new taskforce – made up of industry, the NHS, academia and families affected by dementia – will lead this work to allocate funding.  You can register your interest to take part through the Join Dementia Research website here: https://www.joindementiaresearch.nihr.ac.uk.
 
The Government has also announced its intention to develop and publish a Major Conditions Strategy. The strategy will set out a strong and coherent policy agenda that sets out a shift to integrated, whole-person care. Interventions set out in the strategy will aim to alleviate pressure on the health system, as well as support the Government’s objective to increase healthy life expectancy and reduce ill-health related labour market inactivity. Dementia is one of the six major conditions included in the strategy. On 17 May, the Government launched its call for evidence for the Major Conditions Strategy which ran until 27 June. The Government is analysing responses and will respond shortly.

I can assure this is an issue I will continue to follow closely and champion locally.