Mention terminal illness and most people think of cancer.

While the effects of the disease are horrific, there is another illness lurking in the background and silently growing.

But as it is not something we can see, it rarely makes the headlines. Nor does it generate the scale of funding for research and donations illnesses such as cancer do.

This illness is dementia, and it is terminal.

So why doesn't it get the attention it deserves?

"Dementia is a very difficult illness to deal with," said Jill Badman, manager at Colchester and District Alzheimer's Society, support and advice poviders to sufferers and their families.

"It is not a touchy, feely cause to give money to, like children and animals. Dementia affects people's social skills and until you experience it, or are involved with people who have it, you don't realise how devastating it is."

That doesn't excuse the fact that the authorities spend so little money on dementia patients. National statistics from the Alzheimer's Society show that, while £289 is spent on each person with cancer, only £11 per person is spared for each person with dementia.

It is an extremely small amount and, with a growing ageing population, the number of people with dementia is likely to increase, which means that money will be even more stretched.

Figures from the Alzheimer's Society show 2,901 people currently have the disease in north Essex. By 2021 this looks set to rise to 4,173. Dementia cannot be operated on or treated like cancer. It can be delayed with medication, but only research can find ways to prevent the disease, or even find a cure. But this needs funding.

One of the problems with discussing dementia is the stigma associated with mental health conditions, said Mary Garvey, director for the east region of the Alzheimer's Society.

She explained: "Dementia today is like cancer in the 1950s, often stigmatised, spoken about in hushed tones and with too few services for those affected.

"Dementia now needs to be brought out of the shadows and given the same priority as other serious health conditions. Research is a key part of this and providing support to the 700,000 people living with the condition and millions more carers."

The Alzheimer's Society awarded £1.8 million to 11 new research projects in 2006. Two out of three people living with the condition in the UK never receive a diagnosis, so researchers are looking into new brain scanning techniques and blood tests to secure a faster diagnosis, so people can prepare.

Early diagnosis would help, said Paul Digby, who is outreach worker for the Colchester and District Alzheimer's Society.

"It is nice to have research programmes going on, but a lot of it is long-term and it doesn't bear results immediately. It could be a ten-year wait before results are made public. What people need is early diagnosis so they know what they are dealing with."

After diagnosis, access to support is most important to people with the condition.

"More on-going support is needed from the health services and access to day care. Maybe even extending it into the early evening.

"We run lunch clubs and social functions which helps carers and people with dementia, so they know they are not alone," said Mr Digby.

But support services cost money and unless more cash is provided, they will remain few and far between.

Author Terry Pratchett, who was recently diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy, a rare form of dementia, donated £500,000 to the Alzheimer's Research Trust and spoke of his shock at the massive difference between funding for cancer research and Alzheimer's.

He is having to pay for Alzheimer's drugs because, at 59, he is too young to get them free on the NHS.

And he isn't the only one. Dementia does not just affect the elderly. In north Essex alone there are currently 68 people suffering from the disease who are aged between 30 and 64.

Ms Badman added: "Money isn't the answer to everything, but it helps."

In this case, it certainly would.

  • For more information visit the website below or call the national helpline on 0845 300 0336.

WHAT IS DEMENTIA?

Dementia is a brain disorder which leads to brain functions shutting down.

Its symptoms include memory loss, confusion and problems with speech, understanding and mobility.

It is terminal and usually gets worse as time goes on.

The Medical Research Council spent £32 million on mental health research in 2003/04, but only £7.2 million of that went on dementia.

A healthy, active lifestyle will reduce the risk of developing dementia.