ALMOST half a million pounds has been granted to fund dementia research in Scotland.

Scientists are being invited to apply for grants of up to £450,000 for major research projects into the causes, including of Alzheimer's disease.

The money was granted by the Scottish Government and the charity Alzheimer's Research UK.

Around 56,000 people are living with dementia in Scotland.

Proposals for research projects should be submitted by June 14, with a final decision on successful applications announced by October 31.

The initiative was announced by Michael Matheson MSP, Minister for Public Health, at the Scottish Clinical Dementia Research Network Conference.

He said: "This new initiative builds on our existing investment in dementia research."