Prince Charles Warns Britain Will Face "Catastrophic" Burden If Threat Of Dementia Left Untreated

Britain's Prince Charles has warned the country will face a "catastrophic" burden if the threat of dementia is left untreated.

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The future king praised the work of British scientists fighting the condition - which is the progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the body - and claimed it is vital to make rapid advances to stop the social repercussions of the disease.

Writing to leading Alzheimer's scientists, the prince said: "Sadly, dementia will have an even greater impact as, in the future, the risk of dementia increases as people live longer, and the emotional, social and economic burden we all will face if this threat is left unchecked will be catastrophic." "I thoroughly commend the work of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, and the scientists it funds, in our common battle against the bleak outlook posed by dementia." "By funding research into the disease, the charity is offering hope now and for the future. A cure remains the ultimate target for research, but steps forward with diagnosis, effective treatments and a better knowledge of how our ways of life affect the risk of dementia will be important."

Dementia already costs the U.K. economy $32 billion a year, more than cancer, heart disease and stroke combined, according to the Alzheimer's Research Trust.

The trust claims there are currently 700,000 people living in the U.K. with dementia, the most common form of which is Alzheimer's. That number is expected to double within 30 years.