Recent estimates suggest that there are currently 982,000 people living with dementia in the UK and that this will rise by 40% to 1.4 million in 2040.
Despite dementia and Alzheimer's disease being the leading cause of death in the UK, there are significant gaps in both evidence and service provision for people dying of, or with, dementia. This means that many are not receiving the right care and support to have the best possible experience at the end of their lives.
That is why Marie Curie and Alzheimer's Society partnered in 2024 to make available up to £1,000,000 to fund new research that can improve the end of life experience for people with any form of dementia, and for those who care for and support them.
Watch: Marie Curie and Alzheimer's Society Research Funding PartnershipWatch: Marie Curie and Alzheimer's Society Research Funding Partnership
About the research funding partnership between Marie Curie and Alzheimer's Society.
Identified as top priority
In 2025 a list of the top priorities for future palliative and end-of-life care research was refreshed with support from the James Lind Alliance. These were identified and prioritised by people with lived and professional experience of serious life-limiting illnesses: Palliative and End of Life Care top 10 priorities.
The top priority identified focused on dementia: “How do people with dementia experience end of life? How can palliative and end of life care better meet their needs and those of their carers, friends and families?”
Marie Curie is proud to already be addressing this crucial priority area by funding projects through this funding call. You can read more about the five funded projects below.
