The federal government will provide $21m to 13 research projects that focus on the risk and reduction, prevention and tracking of dementia.
Reportedly, the total investment under the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Boosting Dementia Research Grant scheme is said to have reached its $200m allocation.
According to Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe, research projects that focus on dementia risk reduction and prevention are paramount in the fight against the chronic disease. She adds that they are expected to help increase knowledge around dementia and be beneficial to generations of Australians.
“These research projects are crucial as we know that without medical breakthrough, an estimated 1.1 million Australians will be living with dementia by 2058,” she said.
“It is paramount that dementia continues to be a focus through the National Institute of Dementia Research and the Medical Research Future Fund within the broad parameters of health, ageing and aged care.”
Reportedly, one of the initiatives benefiting from the funding is a project at the National Centre for Healthy Ageing at Peninsula Health-Monash University. This is said to be the first initiative in Australia to use electronic record data to develop ways of monitoring the prevalence of dementia.
“Better data on dementia underpins targeted capacity building in the sector and will assist the long-term planning of dementia care in Australia,” Ms McCabe said.
She added: “Dementia Australia calls on the federal government to make dementia a priority, to create an inclusive future where all people impacted by dementia receive the care and support that they need and deserve.”
