- For confidential advice, call Alzheimer's Society's Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456
- Alzheimer's Society's symptoms checker can help spot the signs of dementia
- READ MORE: How to spot if someone you love has warning signs of dementia
- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
Research into new dementia drugs is on the 'cusp of a revolution' but could stall because of a critical shortage of trial participants, a major report warns.
uncertain
report → call → participants
For the first time, the pipeline of innovative diagnostic tests and treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias is rapidly expanding.
asserted
pipeline → expand → disease
But this progress risks grinding to a halt unless more people take part in clinical trials and restrictive eligibility criteria are reviewed, Alzheimer's Disease International says.
asserted
International → risk → trials
The UK-based federation of 105 global Alzheimer's charities has today published a report that reveals more than 158 potential drugs are being evaluated across more than 192 trials worldwide.
asserted
drugs → base → trials
These require an estimated 55,000 participants to keep them going.
asserted
These → require → them
However, stringent screening criteria lead to many willing volunteers being excluded before they are enrolled, meaning 350,000 people must actually come forward to fulfil recruitment needs.
asserted
people → lead → needs
The Alzheimer's Society annual conference this week heard the situation in the UK is particularly dire, with just 551 people on dementia trials here, compared with around 24,000 on cancer trials.
asserted
situation → hear → trials
Chris Lynch, acting chief executive of ADI, said: 'This is a moment of real hope for dementia research.
asserted
This → act → research
Progress risks grinding to a halt unless more people take part in clinical trials and restrictive eligibility criteria are reviewed, Alzheimer's Disease International says
'After decades of frustration, clinical trials have shown for the first time that new treatments can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, and a burgeoning pipeline of treatment trials brings real hope.
asserted
pipeline → grind → hope
'We are on the cusp of a revolution in dementia diagnostics and treatments, but major barriers to recruiting trial participants risk slowing progress.'
asserted
barriers → recruit → progress
The Daily Mail and Alzheimer's Society have partnered in a drive to defeat dementia, which claims 76,000 lives a year as Britain's biggest killer.
uncertain
which → partner → killer
Our Defeating Dementia campaign aims to raise awareness of the disease, in an effort to increase early diagnosis, boost research and improve care.
asserted
campaign → defeat → care
The new ADI report, titled 'A new era in dementia clinical trials', says barriers to clinical trial participation often begin long before someone reaches a research centre.
asserted
someone → title → centre
Delayed diagnosis, limited access to specialist testing, travel costs, language barriers and the potential need for a care partner to be present can all prevent people from being considered for a trial.
asserted
partner → prevent → trial
These challenges are further complicated when trying to recruit trial volunteers in the pre-symptomatic or at-risk stages of Alzheimer's and other dementias.
asserted
challenges → complicate → Alzheimer
Even when someone is interested, their medical or treatment history may make them ineligible.
uncertain
them → make → ?
Mr Lynch added: 'It is essential that governments invest in early diagnosis, research infrastructure, and public trial readiness, but there also needs to be greater awareness among medical professionals, who can recommend trials to those living with dementia.
'
asserted
who → add → dementia
Trial sponsors must also continue to innovate and build further diversity into research from the outset and reduce unnecessary demands on participants and care partners.
asserted
sponsors → continue → participants
Professor Craig Ritchie, chief executive of Scottish Brain Sciences and a researcher included in the report, said the pace of progress marks a pivotal moment for brain health research
'
asserted
pace → include → research
Remote assessments, local testing, mobile research services, and simpler requirements could make trials accessible to people currently excluded by cost, distance, or caring responsibilities.'
uncertain
trials → make → cost
The report further warns that people may never hear about trials for which they could be eligible, due in part to limited awareness among healthcare professionals and the time pressures they face when discussing research opportunities.
uncertain
they → warn → opportunities
Professor Craig Ritchie, chief executive of Scottish Brain Sciences and a researcher included in the report, said the pace of progress marks a pivotal moment for brain health research.
asserted
pace → include → research
He added: 'For the first time, there is a growing pipeline of treatments and tests that have the potential to detect and then delay, slow, and perhaps even prevent Alzheimer's disease.
asserted
that → add → disease
'Advances that once felt distant are now becoming reality, bringing hope to millions of people and families affected by a range of neurodegenerative diseases.
asserted
that → feel → diseases
'Every person who takes part in research helps us learn faster, understand more, and bring the next generation of tests and treatments closer.
asserted
us → take → tests
Together, we have a genuine chance to change the future of brain health for generations to come.'
asserted
we → have → generations
Michelle Dyson, chief executive of Alzheimer's Society, said: 'We know many people are keen to take part in research but are diagnosed too late and never given the opportunity, while others face practical barriers that make participation difficult.
asserted
participation → say → barriers
'That's why Alzheimer's Society and the UK Dementia Trials Network established a team of Dementia Research Nurses, to help more people living with dementia access clinical trials.
asserted
people → establish → trials
This includes people from diverse backgrounds, who are currently under-represented in dementia research.
asserted
who → include → research
The science is flying – but unless diagnosis and access to trials improves, we won't see these breakthroughs reaching the people who need them most.'
asserted
who → fly → them
A new class of dementia drugs have been shown to reverse the underlying cause of the disease and give users many more months of quality life but they are more effective when taken early, meaning prompt diagnosis is essential.
asserted
diagnosis → show → life
They have recently been approved for use in the UK but not on the NHS.
asserted
They → approve → NHS
Researchers say new treatments in the pipeline could prove even more effective and better value for money, meaning they are more likely to be approved for use on the health service.
uncertain
they → say → service
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'We want to make the UK a world-leader in dementia research, which is why we're boosting clinical trial participation to 2,000 people across the next five years.
asserted
we → say → years
'Everyone should have the same chance to participate in life-changing research, so we want trials to be available across the country.
asserted
trials → have → country
We now have 158 drugs for this condition being tested in clinical trials, compared to only 24 a decade ago, and we are supporting numerous studies through the National Institute for Health and Care Research to give us a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases including dementia.
asserted
we → have → dementia
'If we can work in partnership with patients, carers, families, charities and patient support groups, other government funders and the life sciences industry, then together we can boost participation in clinical trials and make big strides towards preventing and treating dementia.'
asserted
we → work → dementia
The Aporia
