AM - Monday, 20 September , 2004 08:24:00 Reporter: Karen Barlow

TONY EASTLEY: In a time where bureaucrats are trying to get more out of the public health dollar, a major dementia group believes it can save Australia billions of dollars over the next few decades.

Alzheimer's Australia has produced a report by Access Economics, which shows that if dementia symptoms can be delayed by as few as five months, Australia would save around $1.3 billion by the year 2020.

It says the big savings can be made by spending as little as $250 million over the next five years on dementia research.

Leading American Alzheimer's expert, Professor Zaven Khachaturian says with Australia's aging population and increasing life expectancy, dementia can only become a bigger problem.

Source: AM - Alzheimer's Australia says research can make savings in aged care