G8 health leaders agree measures, funding to tackle dementia

G8 health and science leaders on Wednesday agreed a package of measures to tackle the non-specific syndrome of dementia, they described as a "growing global health, social and economic crisis." The meeting chaired by the United Kingdom, and attended by the rest of the G8 Summit member nations - the US, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and Russia - called for greater investment in research and greater sharing of data aimed at better treatment and cures. This was described as "an action plan" which will aim to "fill the gaps and opportunities in dementia research with the ultimate aim of finding a cure or disease-modifying treatment by 2025." "We recognise that dementia is not a normal part of ageing. It is a condition that impairs the cognitive brain functions of memory, language, perception and thought and which interferes significantly with the ability to maintain the activities of daily living," said the meeting's communique. It was referring to the syndrome which includes a number of cases, Alzheimer's being one of them. "We also acknowledge that dementia affects more than 35 million people worldwide, a number that is expected to almost double every 20 years," it added. Meanwhile ahead of the talks, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced several packages his country will be providing towards the cause. "In the past two years we've had GBP 1.8 billion of investment into this country announced. And I am thrilled to announce 3 further pieces of good news. "The first is that the Medical Research Council will be spending GBP 150 million more on clinical infrastructure for dementia and genomics - that is in addition to our G8 commitments. "The second piece of good news: the Belgian biopharmaceutical company UCB have saved GBP 3 million thanks to our new R and D tax credit and they have decided to reinvest that saving back into their centre in Slough. "The third and final piece of good news: GlaxoSmithKline will be investing a further GBP 200 million in UK life sciences that is on top of the GBP 500 million they invested last year - another huge boost to British innovation." Dementia costs USD 604 billion every year, about one per cent of the world's GDP, and enough research on this is still lacking, requiring further funding.