Alzheimer's Research UK

Alzheimer's Research UK (ARUK) is a dementia research charity in the United Kingdom, founded in 1992 as the Alzheimer's Research Trust.

Alzheimer's Research UK
TypeCharitable organisation
FocusAlzheimer's disease research
Health policy
Key people
David Cameron (President)
Kate Swann (Chair)
Hilary Evans (Chief Executive)
Websitewww.alzheimersresearchuk.org
Formerly called
Alzheimer's Research Trust

ARUK funds scientific studies to find ways to treat, cure or prevent all forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia.

As of 2019, Alzheimer's Research UK has funded 139 research projects across the UK and internationally, and has committed more than £117 million to dementia research.[1]

Alzheimer's Research UK is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities.

History
Tanith Lee raising money for the Alzheimer's Research Trust as part of the Match It For Pratchett campaign 2011

In 1998, the trust awarded its first major grant of £500,000 to a team led by distinguished scientist Dr Michel Goedert in Cambridge. At that time the charity funded over 100 grants all over the UK at a cost of more than £11 million.[2]

In March 2008, author Terry Pratchett, who had the disease, donated one million US dollars to the trust.[3]

In 2009 Alzheimer's Research Trust scientists discovered two new genes related to Alzheimer's. Over 16,000 people took part in this study. Time magazine wrote that the findings were one of the most important medical discoveries of the year.

In February 2010, the Alzheimer's Research Trust released the Dementia 2010 report, revealing new evidence of the prevalence, economic cost and research funding for dementia and other major conditions.[4][5]

In February 2011 Alzheimer's Research Trust was renamed as Alzheimer's Research UK.

In 2016, Alzheimer's Research UK became a founding funder of the UK Dementia Research Institute, a £290 million joint investment with the Medical Research Council and Alzheimer's Society.[6]

In 2017, former Prime Minister David Cameron was appointed president of Alzheimer's Research UK.[7]

Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society were the joint Charity of the Year for the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon. The Dementia Revolution campaign raised £4 million, supporting research at the UK Dementia Research Institute.[8]

The charity reported a total income of £38.5m for the 12-month period ending March 2019, £36.7m of which was income from donations.[9]

In 2023, estimates made by Alzheimer's Research UK suggested that clinical trials for lecanemab and donanemab would only find 575,000 people living in the UK eligible for treatment. The challenge was, these people needed a diagnosis but the National Health Service couldn't deliver at that scale. This was because of the risks of side effects, few PET scanners to diagnose Alzheimer's and limited skilled professionals to perform lumbar punctures.[10]

See also

References
  1. "How much research we fund". Dementia Statistics Hub. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. "History". Alzheimer's Research Trust. 13 March 2008. Archived from the original on 23 April 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2008.
  3. "Pratchett funds Alzheimer's study". BBC News. 13 March 2008. Archived from the original on 17 March 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2008.
  4. "The cost of dementia". Alzheimer's Research UK. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  5. "Dementia 'losing out' to cancer in funding stakes". BBC News. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  6. "About us". UK Dementia Research Institute. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  7. "David Cameron: I saw a world of darkness getting bigger and bigger". Financial Times. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  8. "Dementia Revolution raises £4million". Charity Today News. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  9. Kay, Liam. "Income at Alzheimer's Research UK has almost tripled in the past five years, accounts show". Third Sector. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  10. "New Alzheimer's drugs offer hope for bleak diagnosis but remain out of reach in UK". Sky News. Retrieved 17 July 2023.


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