South Holland and the Deepings MP Sir John Hayes pledges support for dementia charities

Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the USA, concluded that life’s only inevitabilities are taxes and death. Whilst the former may be a routine feature of governance, the latter, more profoundly, marks the ultimate expression of our relationship with the passage of time.

Coming to terms with existence beyond individual consciousness depends upon an escape from purely personal perceptions of reality.

For some of us, this may be the product of an optional philosophical journey, but for others it is cruelly obligatory; not so much a chosen flight from the confinement of small-minded immediate preoccupations, as the awful emptiness of reality fleeing from previously sound minds. Dementia, in its late stages, means just that – a loss of the ability to recognise what really exists.

The condition’s early stages often take the form of mild confusion or noticeable memory loss, but later this can end in total bewilderment with the fear this brings.

Early diagnosis matters, so that those affected and those who love them can be reassured, supported and treated.

So, I was pleased to continue my work for sufferers by being briefed earlier this month at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester by Dementia UK.

At present, around 850,000 people suffer from the many forms and types of dementia. By 2030, that number is expected to hit 1.1 million, rising to 1.6 million by 2050.

Currently, someone is diagnosed with the condition every three minutes, and 71,000 of the people living with dementia contract it early – that is to say, their symptoms develop before they turn 65.

The causes of the condition vary – from a genetic propensity to traumatic brain injury – with the progress of the disease being particular to each individual making it hard to predict.

Nevertheless, much can be done. Driving forward improvements through a funded plan to ensure that everyone receives a timely and accurate dementia diagnosis, regardless of where they live, is significant, as are new strategies to support the expansion of diagnosis methods, which facilitate access to breakthrough and cutting-edge treatments as soon as they become available.

Only with accurate diagnoses of a patients’ specific types of dementia, and further research investment, will the best treatments be discovered and delivered. As well as which, we need an improved pathway for people living with dementia to help them navigate the often-complex health and social care system enabling everyone with the condition to access personalised care that best meets their needs.

Dementia UK’s ‘Admiral Nurses’ offer specialist care to sufferers and their families. This support to those closest to the disease’s effects cannot be underestimated – for it cuts deep to grieve for the loss of someone who remains alive in body, but not beyond.

Much-loved actress Barbara Windsor died with dementia. The Launch of Dame Barbara’s Mission, which aims to speed up the development of new treatments, is being supported by £95 million of Government funding.

In addition, £131 million is committed over the next five years to the UK Dementia Research Institute, and £11 million is being invested in digital innovations in detection and diagnosis.

Since I first became involved with families facing dementia, much has been achieved; not least the Government’s commitment to double funding for research to £160 million a year by 2024/25, which will span all areas of study, including diagnosis and treatment, enabling the best possible care and quality of life for sufferers.

Most people now live longer lives than my grandparents’ generation could have ever envisaged, but for some such longevity brings challenges.

In meeting them, the skilled work of Dementia UK and the Alzheimer’s Society, the spokesmen for which I also met at the Conference, are of immense value.

These organisations, and all those they help, will always have my care and support.