asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made in the clinical treatment of senile dementia; and if he will make a statement.

There are a number of Medical Research Council units around the country looking at different aspects of senile dementia, but as yet there is no treatment which is able to prevent, arrest or reverse the process. Nor has any treatment been satisfactorily shown to improve brain function in people who are dementing.At the present time the main aims of clinical treatment include treating any co-existing physical or mental illlnesses or disabilities which could accentuate the effects of dementia; using behavioural and living skill techniques to diminish behaviour problems and to enable people to live as independently as possible; and giving support and counselling to families and other carers.