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Alzheimer's Trials Stall: Participant Shortage Threatens Cures
21 Sep
Summary
- Global Alzheimer's trials face a critical shortage of participants.
- 158 potential dementia therapies are currently undergoing testing.
- Misunderstandings and low awareness impede trial participation.
A critical global shortage of participants is hindering clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease, potentially slowing the development of new therapies. Alzheimer's Disease International highlighted this issue in a report released on World Alzheimer's Day. Currently, 158 potential dementia therapies are being tested across 192 clinical trials worldwide.
The emergence of disease-modifying drugs like lecanemab and donanemab has spurred hope, offering a new approach to slowing the neurodegenerative disease's progression. The field of Alzheimer's research is advancing rapidly with new blood tests and computational drug discovery methods.
To sustain active trials and account for high screening rejection rates, an estimated 350,000 individuals would need to apply. However, factors such as a public lack of understanding about research processes and limited awareness of trial opportunities are significant barriers. In Japan, a pervasive paternalistic culture also discourages informed patient decisions about voluntary participation.
