§ Sir David PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what research his Department is conducting into senile dementia; and what progress is being made in both retarding the onset of such dementia, and reducing its impact.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from the Department of Education and Science, is the main Government-funded body for biomedical research in the United Kingdom and has a number of units looking at different aspects of senile dementia. The main clinical aims include treating any coexisting illnesses or disabilities which could accentuate the effects of dementia, and supporting and counselling families and other carers.
At present there is no treatment which is able to prevent, arrest or reverse senile dementia. We are paying 29W close attention to trials which are investigating the potential of Tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) as a treatment.
The Department is not currently conducting research specifically into senile dementia although we are funding a special medical development about the evaluation of nursing homes for the elderly mentally ill which is relevant to sufferers of senile dementia.