The Federal Government has announced it will provide over $40 million for dementia specific medical research projects.
A total of 45 projects will receive funding, with the focus on improving approaches to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of dementia including its most common form, Alzheimer’s disease. Priorities for the projects were set in consultation with people with dementia and their carers.
Among the projects will be studies into diagnosis and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with dementia, and finding ways to improve sleep as a way of reducing dementia.
Dementia is recognised by the World Health Authority as a global public health priority. There are currently an estimated 413,106 Australians living with dementia, with this number expected to rise to over 500,000 by 2025.
The Commonwealth’s peak research body, the National Health and Medical Research Council, will administer the funded projects.
The Government’s full announcement can be found on the Federal Minister for Health’s website.