A national research strategy and more "white coats" are needed to combat soaring rates of dementia in an ageing population, a leading UK charity has claimed.

Alzheimer's Research UK called on the Government to mount a long-term campaign to boost dementia research and increase the number of scientists working in the field.

Such a strategy would encourage ring-fencing of dementia research funding, foster innovation with risk-taking initiatives and clear away unnecessary bureaucracy, it said.

Chief executive Rebecca Wood said: "It is right that we pay serious attention to the care challenge that dementia poses today and tomorrow, but we can't just paper over the cracks.

"The only answer to dementia lies in research that will deliver new treatments and preventions. Government and other funders have taken some positive steps towards boosting research efforts in the UK, but we can't rely on flash-in-the-pan tactics."

She added: "If we can't boost the number of scientists working on dementia, then we will fail the 820,000 living with dementia today, and we will be powerless to avert the looming increases in prevalence."

A report from Alzheimer's Research UK entitled Defeating Dementia will be launched at the House of Commons at an event attended by the charity's patron, author Sir Terry Pratchett.

It makes 14 recommendations to the Government and other funders to help boost capacity and create a better environment for dementia research.

The number of people in the UK living with dementia is spiralling towards one million as the population ages.

Already the burden of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are costing the economy more than £23 billion a year, said Alzheimer's Research UK. But a history of under-investment has left dementia research undermanned and underfunded, the charity argues.

Source: Press Association