Health · Mental Health · 1 hr ago
David Cameron says his mother’s Alzheimer’s drove his push for better treatment access
David Cameron says his mother asked his sister to end her life as Alzheimer’s affected her, leaving her increasingly forgetful and unsure where she was.
Mary Cameron, a magistrate for 30 years, died last year aged 90, six years after her diagnosis.
Her experience has driven Cameron’s call for better access to Alzheimer’s treatments.
Drugs licensed in 2024 can slow the disease’s progress by a third, but they have been rejected for routine NHS use on cost-effectiveness grounds.
Cameron says the NHS should do more to address dementia, and he believes Andy Burnham is committed to tackling the crisis.
A fundraiser for unpaid dementia carers passed its £100,000 first target in a week, funding nearly 3,000 support courses.
More funding is still needed for a full national rollout of the courses.
David Cameron says his mother’s Alzheimer’s disease drove his campaign for better access to innovative treatments.
Mary Cameron was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years before she died last year, aged 90.
Cameron says his mother became increasingly forgetful and once asked his sister to kill her.
Drugs that can slow the disease’s progress by a third were licensed in 2024 but rejected for routine NHS use on cost-effectiveness grounds.
A dementia carers appeal run by Mail Force with the Alzheimer’s Society passed its first £100,000 target within a week.
- Who
- David Cameron, his mother Mary Cameron and his sister Clare.
- What
- Cameron says his mother’s Alzheimer’s experience drove his push for better access to treatments. He also recounted her plea to his sister to end her life.
- When
- Mary Cameron died last year, aged 90, six years after her diagnosis. The article was published on 15 November 2026.
- Where
- The story concerns the UK and access to treatment through the NHS.
- Why
- Cameron says his mother’s experience drove his campaign for better access to innovative Alzheimer’s treatments.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mary Cameron was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Drugs capable of slowing the disease’s progress by a third were licensed.
Mary Cameron died, aged 90.
The Dementia Carers Together appeal passed its first £100,000 target.
- Mary Cameron
- Died aged 90, six years after her diagnosis
- Treatment
- Drugs licensed in 2024 can slow the disease’s progress by a third
- NHS access
- The drugs were rejected for routine use on cost-effectiveness grounds
- Dementia carers appeal
- Passed its first £100,000 target within a week
What people are saying
We are cracking this disease.
Will you kill me? You know how to do it
Mum, even if I did know how to kill you, I don't want to go to prison for murdering my mother.