Alzheimer’s Research UK report reveals doubling of dementia researchers since 2008

A new analysis conducted by dementia research charity Alzheimer’s Research UK has revealed that the number of scientists working on dementia has nearly doubled over six years.

Titled ‘Keeping pace: progress in dementia research capacity’, the new report compares the dementia research landscape in 2015-2016 with that of 2008-2009 and highlights that the number of UK dementia researchers has nearly doubled from 3,209 to 6,141 within six years.

Additionally, UK dementia research productivity has approximately doubled from 1,614 scientific publications to 3,169 each year, while for every dementia researcher, four work on cancer.

The new study was published when the charity launched its new Dementia Statistics Hub, which is an online ‘one-stop shop’ for the latest information and statistics, as well as research on the condition.

Alzheimer’s Research UK chief executive Hilary Evans said: "Five years ago we challenged the UK Government to commit to long-term support for dementia research, and today we see the impact that greater investment can have.

"Today we understand more than ever before about the diseases that cause dementia, now the challenge is to translate that knowledge into breakthroughs that will transform people’s lives."

"It’s heartening to see funding increases have resulted in more scientists focusing on this devastating condition, and more discoveries being made in the search for new treatments.

"Today we understand more than ever before about the diseases that cause dementia, now the challenge is to translate that knowledge into breakthroughs that will transform people’s lives."

Figures from the new analysis reveal that for every one dementia scientist, there are currently four cancer researchers, compared to six in 2008-09.

In addition, the figures reveal that currently there is only one dementia researcher for every £2m of costs to the country’s economy attributed to the condition when compared to ten for cancer.

According to the new report, an increase in the funding for research into dementia has resulted in major improvements within the country’s dementia research sector but has since failed to address the huge impact of the condition.