Two major dementia charities are set to deliver a ground-breaking
project that aims to revolutionise early dementia diagnosis in
the UK - thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode
Lottery.
Alzheimer’s Society
and Alzheimer’s Research
UK have formed a new partnership to deliver the ambitious
project, which aims to enable the introduction of a simple blood
test in the NHS that will help diagnose dementia.
As two of the leading dementia charities in the UK, Alzheimer’s
Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK recognise there is an urgent
need for earlier and more accurate dementia diagnosis, and that
the introduction of a blood test is a crucial part of that
revolution.
This project will introduce a simple and inexpensive blood test
to NHS settings that can detect Alzheimer’s disease at the early
stages. This will enable earlier and more accurate diagnosis and
give people a greater chance of benefiting from appropriate
support and treatments.
With 1 in 3 people born today now expected to receive a dementia
diagnosis in their lifetime, and breakthrough new drugs on the
horizon, simple and early diagnosis is the missing piece of the
puzzle – and that is what this revolutionary project will
address, transforming the future of dementia diagnosis.
In addition, the project will focus on breaking down the stigma
associated with dementia, encouraging people to seek out support
if they are concerned about dementia and crucially improve early
diagnosis rates.
The innovative charity collaboration has won the support of the
People’s Postcode Lottery’s Dream Fund.
The Dream Fund was created to give charities a chance to deliver
projects they have always dreamed of but never had the
opportunity to deliver.
The award of £5 million is the biggest in the Dream Fund’s
history. It’s also the biggest single award ever made
thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.To
date, the fund has supported 36 ‘dream’ projects’, and awarded
more than £24 million to inspirational initiatives – all thanks
to funds raised by Postcode Lottery players across Britain.
Kate Lee, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society said: “We are delighted to
be working in partnership with Alzheimer’s Research UK and
People’s Postcode Lottery to deliver this revolutionary project,
breaking down the stigma associated with dementia and providing
hope to millions of people. Funds raised by players of People’s
Postcode Lottery will transform dementia diagnosis forever by
accelerating the use of a revolutionary blood test on the NHS and
crucially creating a legacy for millions of families in the
future who will benefit from an early diagnosis.
“This announcement comes during Dementia Action Week, Alzheimer’s
Society’s biggest and longest running awareness campaign which,
this year is focusing on the importance of diagnosis. With
diagnosis rates at a five-year low, we need to act now to help
end the devastation caused by dementia. We could not be more
grateful to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for helping us
make this dream a reality.”
Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to join forces with Alzheimer’s
Society and People’s Postcode Lottery to help end the heartbreak
of dementia by radically reshaping how Alzheimer’s disease is
diagnosed. Anxiously waiting months and months for a diagnosis is
simply not good enough. People with Alzheimer’s and other forms
of dementia deserve better. Making sure future generations won’t
have to go through this lengthy worry by bringing a quick, simple
blood test to the NHS is a wonderful legacy from People’s
Postcode Lottery players all over the country. If we can fix
diagnosis, we open the door for a cure.”
Clara Govier, Managing Director at People’s Postcode Lottery,
said: “This year’s Dream Fund award of £5 million is our biggest
ever and will change lives for the better. We believe this new
collaboration between two of the country’s leading Alzheimer’s
charities has the potential to transform dementia diagnosis in
the UK. It’s a bold ambition but, with one person in Britain
developing dementia every three minutes, we must aim high. This
is a condition which devastates lives and I know our millions of
players will join me in wishing our charity partners every
success.”
Hundreds of charity representatives from across Britain joined
People’s Postcode Lottery as they hosted their annual Charity
Gala in Edinburgh last night.
Over £1.1 billion has been raised by players of People’s Postcode
Lottery, supporting charities across Britain and
internationally.
- Ends -
