Scientists want G8 countries to quadruple funding for dementia research within 10 years

A special G8 summit on dementia next week will discuss the rising impact of dementia on the world’s population and economy, in an effort to generate an international response to increase research into the disease.

Economically dementia cost the world $604bn (£370bn; €440bn) in 2010, experts said at a pre-summit briefing. To put that figure in perspective, if dementia were a country, it would be the 18th largest economy in the world. The experts want to see a big increase in funding, with investment in research increasing fourfold over 10 years.

The scientists and doctors gave the pre-summit briefing, organised by the Science Media Centre, at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London this week.

Scientists told the press that more investment was needed because the burden of dementia was growing. New figures from Alzheimer Disease International show that …