$4.6 Million for New Dementia Research
 
Australian Ministry for Ageing Press Release

July 7, 2004

Research into dementia has been boosted with $4.6 million in Australian Government funding, Minister for Ageing Julie Bishop said today.

Funded through the National Health and Medical Research Council, the grant of $4.6 million over five years has been awarded to Professors Perminder Sachdev, Henry Brodaty and Gavin Andrews from the University of New South Wales .

The team will research the early detection and prevention of neurocognitive disorders, including dementia and depression in older people, to help GPs recognise these conditions earlier, and manage them more effectively.

"An estimated 176,000 Australians currently have some form of dementia, and this number is expected to rise as our population ages," Ms Bishop said.

"We have much to learn about dementia and depression, and we need to find new ways of identifying and treating the conditions so that the quality of life of older Australians and their carers and families can continue to be improved.

"Australian researchers are leading the way in dementia research and this grant will help fund further investigations to give us insights into changes in the brain that may lead to this condition."

The Australian Government recognises the impact of dementia on the community and currently provides around $2.6 billion annually to support people with dementia and their carers, primarily through residential and community care, respite and research. Since 1996 the Government has increased funding for the National Respite for Carers Program more than fivefold, and increased substantially funding for Home and Community Care services and Community Aged Care Packages to assist people to remain at home as they age, including many older Australians with dementia.

In addition, through the $2.2 billion record funding package, Investing in Australia's Aged Care: More Places, Better Care, announced as part of the 2004 Federal Budget, the Government will be providing additional care supplements to aged care providers for residents with dementia, recognising that these residents can require higher levels of care.