UK to invest £375 million in neurodegenerative disease research

The government has announced today that the UK will commit £375 million to neurodegenerative disease research over the next five years. At least £50 million of this extra funding will be made available specifically for research to help find a cure for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

MND is a condition that affects the brain and nerves. 5,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with MND.

Other diseases which this funding will help research into include Pick’s Disease, Fronto-temporal dementia, wernicke-korsakoff, Parkinson’s disease dementia, Lewy Body dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment. 

There is currently only one drug licensed in the UK to treat MND – Riluzole – which slows the progression of the disease and extends someone’s life by a few months.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “Neurodegenerative conditions like MND can have a devastating impact on people’s lives and I’m committed to ensuring the government does everything we can to fight these diseases and support those affected”.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The UK is home to some of the most transformative and innovative medical research in the world, and the availability of this research funding, alongside the work of our strong life science and pharmaceuticals sector, will make the most of that research to help those living with motor neurone disease”.