DEMENTIA is one of the quiet tragedies of modern life. And it is a serious problem in Oxfordshire.

As life expectancy goes up, more people are left living with the condition – and in a wealthy county where people live longer, we are suffering more than many.

Leaders have come together in London to pledge more funds to tackle it.

But, while such grand occasions can often seem to mean little to people on the street, we are told that this time it is different.

The announcement that funding for Oxford will be doubled to as much as £20m could, it seems clear, have a major impact.

It will pay for better equipment, more staff and more research.

For those who have not come across dementia, this promised money may still seem like an important move that will not affect them.

Yet dementia is a widespread condition that many of us may suffer.

As is seen wth Terry Pratchett, the novelist and Alzheimer’s campaigner, the condition can affect anyone.

More importantly, it is a debilitating and incurable condition that destroys lives.

Trumpeted announcements must be treated with caution, but this pledge of new funding should be welcomed with open arms.