Six new research grants have been awarded around the country to further studies of dementia and Alzeimer’s Disease.

The federal government funding has been announced by Federal Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek and Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler. The money will go to researchers such as University of Wollongong Professor Brett Garner, who will receive $429,011 to investigate how a lack of Vitamin B12 contributes to age-related memory loss, reasoning and decision making. Universities in Victoria, Queensland and WA have been awarded funding too.

The University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) and Queensland Brain Institute will receive $456,787 to investigate potential new drug targets for Alzheimer’s treatment.

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek says “Dementia is likely to affect 900,000 Australians by 2050 and I'm proud that Australia is acting now in whole range of areas like research, awareness and better services.”

The new funding is part of the Government's "Living Longer Living Better‟ aged care reform package from 2012, providing $3.7 billion over five years.