New breakthrough in dementia research could mean the disease becomes a treatable condition within a decade

Eastbourne is amongst a list of areas with the highest rates of recorded dementia in the UK. Ranked joint eighth in the country by Clinical Commissioning Group area - 0.92% of the population in Eastbourne, Hailsham and Seaford have the disease. The areas with the highest diagnosis rates all have high populations of elderly people.

Two new drug treatments are currently being tested in clinical trials by pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Biogen. The antibody infusion medication is designed to destroy the build-up of amyloid, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

These are the first drugs to target underlying causes of Alzheimer’s, rather than simply mask its symptoms. Initial results suggest that one of the drugs slows the breakdown in mental function by 34 per cent, if it is given early.

“Any progress in this area is incredibly welcome,” said Nial Joyce, who runs dementia care centre, Clifden House in Seaford. “Unfortunately the number of people to suffer from the disease is set to rise as the population ages and the true number of sufferers is likely to be much higher than reported because only a third of people ever receive a formal diagnosis,” he continued.

Professor John Hardy, of the Institute of Neurology at University College London, said: "I think Alzheimer’s will be treatable. I hope that by 2025 we will be able to slow the disease.”

Dementia is a challenging condition that requires the integration of tailored medical and social care. According to Nial Joyce, who has worked in care for people with dementia for 20 years, professional help and support can allow sufferers to continue to lead a fulfilled, even if somewhat different, life for many years post diagnosis.