The Wire

A new report released this week by Access Economics has highlighted the need for greater awareness and funding for dementia. The report revealed that a thousand people a week are expected to be diagnosed with the crippling disease this year. While the number of people suffering from dementia is expected to exceed 1% of the population this year, by mid-century, that figure is placed at 2.8%. Dementia is a disease that not only strips a person of their independence but also places a heavy burden on their families and carers. While the federal government has committed over 2.6 billion dollars towards dementia care programs in the last two years, the report claims that more could be going towards research, which may have not only medical benefits, but economic ones too. Glenn Rees, the National Director of Alzheimers Australia, spoke to Bill Birtles about the reasons why more funding towards dementia research is needed.