Boris Johnson has announced plans to raise funds for dementia research to £160 million a year by 2024. The act could be one of the last in his premiership having already announced his resignation as Prime Minister.
There is a rising number of cases of people with dementia with the NHS estimating 850,000 people in the UK currently suffering. This number is expected to rise to one million by 2025 and 1.6 million by 2040. The causes dementia are still not well understood, as explained by the Alzheimer’s Society in their announcement as the official charity partner of the British Wills and Probate Awards 2022.
Johnson said the new investment was in honour of Dame Barbara Windsor, and called on people to join “Babs’ Army” by volunteering for clinical trials. The aim is to develop research using the Covid Vaccine Taskforce.
Johnson described Dame Barbara Windsor as a “British hero”, adding that launching a new national dementia mission in her name honours her in a “fitting way”. He continued:
“I had the pleasure of meeting her both on the set of EastEnders as Peggy Mitchell, and at Downing Street as we discussed the injustices faced by dementia sufferers.
Working with her husband Scott, and on behalf of everyone who is living with dementia or has a loved one affected by this devastating condition, I am doubling research funding and calling for volunteers to join ‘Babs’ Army’.
We can work together to beat this disease, and honour an exceptional woman who campaigned tirelessly for change.”
Scott Mitchell, Barbara Windsor’s husband, stated:
“I’m so pleased that Boris had the conviction to do this reform. I’m so honoured that not only has he reformed social care, but he’s also committed this new money in Barbara’s name to make the necessary research breakthroughs to find a cure for dementia.
Barbara would be so proud that she has had this legacy which will hopefully mean that families in the future won’t have to go through the same heart-breaking experience that she and I had to endure.
I can’t stop thinking about her looking down with pride.”
