PM challenged over dementia research, agrees to meet Terry Pratchett
Date published:
Thursday, November 13, 2008News source:
Alzheimer’s Research TrustRegion:
United Kingdom 
An MP has asked Gordon Brown to meet Discworld author Terry Pratchett to discuss the under-funding of dementia research.
Greg Mulholland, Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North West, asked:
“On the 26th November, Terry Pratchett, who has Alzheimer’s disease, and the Alzheimer’s Research Trust will hand in a petition to number 10 describing the government’s funding of dementia research as ‘appalling’ and calling for an urgent increase (it is currently just 3% of the medical research budget). Will the Prime Minister meet with me, Terry Pratchett, and experts from the Alzheimer’s Research Trust to discuss this?”
The Prime Minister responded: “Yes of course I will meet him,” before referring to the government’s planned £15 billion expenditure over the next 10 years on medical research for conditions including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s among others.
The exchange occurred at Prime Minister’s Question Time on Wednesday 12th November at 12.25 in the House of Commons.
Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said: “It is fantastic to see Gordon Brown agreeing to meet Terry Pratchett to discuss the need for more research into dementia. We welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to wider medical research funding over the next decade, and look forward to finding out what this means for dementia research specifically.
“Two-thirds of all voters, and four-fifths of over 55s, support an increase in funding for dementia research. Politicians from all parties are realising that this challenge, which costs the British economy £17 billion a year, must be tackled through an urgent increase in dementia research funding.
Terry Pratchett is a Patron of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust. On 26th November he will hand in a petition to 10 Downing Street, which reads:
“An increase in research funding is urgently needed so that we can finally begin to understand and beat Alzheimer’s, and help the thousands of people and their families who suffer from the devastating impact of dementia.”
It emerged earlier this week that Harold Wilson showed signs of dementia while still Prime Minister. Margaret Thatcher, a Patron of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, developed dementia after leaving office.
“I am appalled that research into Alzheimer’s and related diseases, which affect 700,000 people in the UK, currently receives just 3% of government medical research funding. I strongly urge the government to increase funding for dementia research as a matter of urgency.”
Greg Mulholland MP said: “I am very pleased that Prime Minister has agreed to meet with us to discuss this very important issue.
“Dementia affects hundreds of thousands of people in the UK, yet it is still fundamentally misunderstood and receives scant attention.
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