Newcastle researchers are working to come up with a drug to treat a horrifying form of dementia and to investigate what causes it - and they've received a massive funding boost.
With 40,000 people in the North East living with a form of dementia, Alzheimer's Research UK has announced that it is backing two projects at Newcastle University looking into a treatment for Dementia with Lewy Bodies. This is the form of the illness which afflicted film star Robin Williams - and is the third most common kind of dementia.
The landmark announcement comes on World Alzheimer's Day - and will see projects led by Professor John-Paul Taylor and Dr Daniel Erskine supported. Prof Taylor is examining whether a drug called Donepezil can alleviate some of the early symptoms of the condition.
