OXFORD East MP Anneliese Dodds marked Dementia Action Week with a trip to the Alzheimer's Research UK base in Oxford seeking out new treatments to fight the disease.

The member of parliament went along to the charity's Oxford Drug Discovery Institute (DDI) and was shown the breakthrough research underway to find new treatments for the diseases that cause dementia.

The Oxford DDI is one of three Drug Discovery Institutes established and funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK, it is based at Nuffield Department of Medicine Research Building, in Headington.

Research has shown their are more than 2,600 people living with dementia in Oxford alone.

Ms Dodds said: "It was wonderful to see the work taking place at the Alzheimer’s Research UK Oxford DDI.

"People affected by dementia urgently need new treatments, and it’s a source of real pride to know that scientists in the city are at the forefront of efforts to develop them.

"With so many people living with dementia here in Oxford and across the UK, we must ensure that research like this is supported."

Oxford DDI chief scientific officer John Davies added: " Our research is at an exciting stage with two potential drug candidates now being explored.

"Innovative science like this can only happen because of the support of the public, charities like Alzheimer’s Research UK and government, and it’s this backing that will help deliver the treatments people so desperately need."