By Ian Walker

LONDON--Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK.LN) said Tuesday it will invest $25 million in a new global fund for dementia research by the U.K. government.

The Dementia Discovery Fund is being established by the U.K. government in partnership with leading pharmaceutical companies and Alzheimer's Research U.K., to address the rising threat posed by dementia by supporting research into future treatments. It has received initial commitments totaling $100 million.

The fund aims to identify and nurture promising new avenues of research from around the world in the field of dementia.

According to the World Health Organization more than 35 million people are living with dementia worldwide. This number is expected to triple by 2050, yet there are currently no medicines available to prevent or cure this disease.

"As well as the $25 million contribution we've announced today, we can bring GSK's neurosciences expertise to this novel venture, which, combined with that of other partners, puts us in a good position to invest in some potentially exciting new therapies," Glaxo's President of Pharmaceutical R&D Patrick Vallance said.

-Write to Ian Walker at ian.walker@wsj.com; @IanWalk40289749

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