Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current levels of Government support for dementia research.

Government responsibility for delivering dementia research is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care, with research delivered via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation. The Government is investing in dementia research across all areas, from causes, diagnosis, and prevention, to treatment, care, and support, including for carers.

Between financial years 2020/21 and 2024/25, through the NIHR, the Department spent £183.1 million for new research projects and supporting infrastructure into dementia. This includes spending £53 million in financial year 2024/25 alone.

Officials meet regularly with a range of partners, including Alzheimer's Research UK to discuss research and to drive the maximum collective research impact on policy, practice, and individual lives. My Rt Hon. Friend, the current Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not held discussions with Alzheimer's Research UK.

Whilst no assessment has been made of the adequacy of the funding allocated for research into dementia, the NIHR continues to welcome high quality applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including dementia. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to the public and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.