'We risk dementia sufferers missing out on big breakthroughs'

Experts: NHS has to make Alzheimer’s a priority

- By Hanna Geissler

MAKE Alzheimer’s an NHS priority — or patients may miss out on breakthroughs in care, experts have warned.

They claim the service is not set for a “future full of hope” in diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s. A series of papers in the Lancet medical journal predicts that managing the disease will be dramatically transformed by new drugs and blood tests.

But the papers’ 40 authors warned that the potential of “major innovations” will not be realised without rapid reform — and leading dementia charities last night called on the Government to ensure that thousands of people do not miss out.

Prof Fiona Carragher, chief policy and research officer at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “A new era for the treatment and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is here.

“Research has come a long way, the pace of new developments is rapid and the future is full of hope. But we risk people living with dementia in the UK not being able to benefit from these big breakthroughs unless we start preparing our NHS now. It’s vital that the UK Government ensures that people with dementia aren’t left behind.