Charles warns of dementia 'burden'

17 March 2009 12:15am

The UK faces a "catastrophic" burden in the future if the threat of dementia is left unchecked, the Prince of Wales has warned.

Charles said he was aware of the "enormous effect" of dementia on people's lives and those who care for them and he welcomed work by UK scientists in battling the condition.

His remarks were made in a written statement to more than 200 of the UK's leading scientists due to gather this week for the Alzheimer's Research Trust 10th annual conference at the Royal Institution in London.

In his address, the Prince, who is currently on a tour of South America with the Duchess of Cornwall, welcomed the work of the charity and its supporters in their mission to "lift the shroud of mystery" surrounding the condition.

The Prince said 700,000 people in the UK live in hope for an effective treatment for their dementia.

He said surrounding them were those who face the "devastation" of watching their family and friends "slip away" before their eyes.

He said: "Sadly, dementia will have an even greater impact as, in the future, the risk of dementia increases as people live longer, and the emotional, social and economic burden we all will face if this threat is left unchecked will be catastrophic.

"I thoroughly commend the work of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, and the scientists it funds, in our common battle against the bleak outlook posed by dementia.

"By funding research into the disease, the charity is offering hope now and for the future.

"A cure remains the ultimate target for research, but steps forward with diagnosis, effective treatments and a better knowledge of how our ways of life affect the risk of dementia will be important."

© The Press Association