I welcome your decision to help raise awareness of dementia ('Time to tackle the last great taboo', June 22).

What many of your readers may not realise is that there are world- class research teams operating here in this part of the UK. They are exploring the causes of dementia and looking for new ways of treating it.

Brace is a West Country charity, dedicated to raising funds for research. We help to finance projects in Bristol, Bath and South Gloucestershire, all of which are at the "cutting edge" of research into dementia.

This means that the thousands of people across the region who have already supported Brace are playing a vital role in the fight against this terrible condition.

With their help, we are determined to beat dementia.

Mark Poarch,

Chief executive, Brace,

Blackberry Hill Hospital,

Bristol.