Latest news with #AlzheimersResearchUK
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Brothers complete mammoth 186-mile walk of Pembrokeshire coastal path
Two brothers have raised more than £4,000 for charity after completing a 186-mile trek for their grandmother. Rhodri and Gethin Poacher walked the entire Pembrokeshire Coast Path to support Alzheimer's Research UK, honouring their grandmother who has lived with the disease since 2021. Gethin Poacher said: "We walked for our granny. For all of those whose memories are slipping away. For the families, like ours, who care for them, and for the researchers working tirelessly for a cure. "We're blown away by the generosity and support we've received along the way." Their journey, which began in Amroth and ended in St Dogmaels, included more than 11,000 metres of elevation gain—the equivalent of scaling Mount Everest. Along the way, they passed more than 50 beaches, camped under the stars, and took dips in the sea. Rhodri Poacher said: "It's been the toughest thing we've ever done, both physically and mentally, but also one of the most meaningful. "We have witnessed all that Pembrokeshire has to offer, growing our family connection to the path and honouring the work of our grandad in preserving its beauty and sustainability. "During our journey we met so many wonderful people and have been reminded of the strength of community." Their JustGiving page has raised £4,045 so far, with donations coming from across the UK and beyond. The funds will support Alzheimer's Research UK's efforts to improve the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and eventual cure of Alzheimer's disease. The brothers' challenge also gained attention on social media, helping them surpass their fundraising target. To support their cause, visit their Just Giving page.
The Independent
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Why an early dementia diagnosis is so important
Dame Judi Dench is supporting Alzheimer's Research UK's new dementia Unseen campaign and petition, urging the Government to ensure earlier dementia diagnoses through the NHS. The campaign was launched after the NHS removed its target for 66.7% of people with dementia to receive a diagnosis from its 2025-26 planning guidance. Alzheimer's Research UK reports that patients in some English regions face up to a year's wait for a diagnosis, with longer delays in deprived areas. An early dementia diagnosis significantly improves a patient's quality of life and provides access to treatments that can manage symptoms. Early diagnosis also helps carers and family members seek support, prompts important safety discussions, and allows individuals to outline their wishes and prepare for the future.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dame Judi Dench Calls For British Government To Improve Access To Dementia Help
Dame Judi Dench was nominated for an Oscar for her role in 2001 movie Iris, which saw her play Iris Murdoch, who struggled with Alzheimer's. The actress is now backing calls for the British government to improve access to early and accurate diagnoses of dementia within the National Health Service (NHS). More from Deadline Judi Dench Tearfully Reacts To Maggie Smith's Death At Cheltenham Literary Fest Notes On The Season: Oscar Race Defined In The Last Hour; Plus Catching Up With Contenders From A 'King Richard' Key Player To Dame Judi Dench Secret Netflix Movie That Landed Lofty California Tax Credit Is Likely Brad Pitt's 'Adventures Of Cliff Booth' - The Dish Nearly one million people in the UK are living with dementia, of which Alzheimer's is one form, yet one in three are currently living without a diagnosis. In England, some people wait up to a year for a diagnosis, after being referred, and people in the most deprived regions face even longer delays. Alzheimer's Research UK has launched a campaign calling for the government to improve this and has enlisted Dench's help. The campaign – Dementia Unseen – comes just months after the government announced plans to shelve a key target to diagnose 66.7% of over-65s with the condition. The charity wants people to be referred by their GP to see a specialist within six weeks – and to have a diagnosis and treatment plan in place within 18 weeks. The number of people with dementia is expected to rise by 43% by 2040. 'Dementia doesn't just take away memories – it can take away identity, connection, and the future you thought you had. Watching loved ones slip away, and not knowing why, is an experience no one should have to go through without answers,' Dench said. 'Many people across the UK are still waiting far too long for a dementia diagnosis – or never receive one at all. That means they miss out on vital support, on the chance to plan ahead, opportunities to get involved in research, and on precious time. A diagnosis may not fix everything, but it gives people understanding, clarity, and some control at a time when everything feels uncertain. It allows families to make the most of the moments they have left.' 'Everyone who has dementia should have the right to know the disease or diseases causing it, and to be diagnosed early enough to get treatments that help with its symptoms. But hundreds of thousands of people are waiting too long for a diagnosis, causing uncertainty, and adding distress to an already challenging situation,' added Hilary Evans-Newton, Chief Executive of Alzheimer's Research UK. 'We're incredibly grateful to Dame Judi for helping shine a light on what people with dementia need – and to everyone who has already signed our petition and stands with us. More people are seeking answers, so it's vital that the NHS and government act now to fix the system – because no one should face dementia alone or unseen.' Best of Deadline 'The Gilded Age' Season 3 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's charities identify new ways to reuse current drugs
Scientists are to examine whether drugs that are already in use could be repurposed to treat the symptoms of both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's in a new collaboration which aims to discover novel treatments at pace. Experts say that by repurposing drugs, they can 'increase the shots on target' at tackling the diseases. This method of drug development could also reduce the time patients are left waiting for new treatments by up to 10 years, they added. It comes after the NHS spending watchdog rejected the use of new Alzheimer's drugs lecanemab and donanemab for widespread use in the health service. The drugs were approved for use in the UK last year by the UK's medicines regulator but the NHS spending watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), said they could not be used in the NHS because the benefits are 'too small' to justify the cost. Now charities Cure Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Research UK have joined forces to find current drugs that may tackle some of the common biology behind both diseases. After presentations to the International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT), which was set up by Cure Parkinson's over a decade ago, experts from both fields will select the most promising drugs for both Parkinson's and dementia, so they can be moved quickly into clinical trials. Weight loss jabs are already being investigated for their effectiveness in treating symptoms of both diseases and experts hope to uncover more drugs that can have multiple uses. Semaglutide, the active ingredient for weight loss and diabetes drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, is being examined in clinical trials to see whether it can help patients with Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's. Trial results for the Alzheimer's trial are expected to be published later this year. Dr Sheona Scales, director of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, told the PA news agency that the iLCT project had already been 'hugely successful' with people who have Parkinson's, adding: 'Around 30% of disease modifying therapies that are in clinical trials for Parkinson's disease came through this process. 'What we wanted to do is to build on their knowledge and experience and expertise in order to be able to bring a process similar to that to Alzheimer's disease.' Dr Scales said that there are some 'common grounds' between Parkinson's and Alzheimer's – both are neurodegenerative diseases and have some 'common biological processes' – such as inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and 'protein misfolding' – which could be targets for repurposed drugs. 'Getting multiple drugs that are targeting the disease is really important to us,' she said. 'Testing different types of drugs and getting as many shots on target is important.' She said: 'Repurposed drugs have already been demonstrated to be safe for use in humans development of new drugs for different diseases is a long process. 'What essentially bringing repurposed drugs does, is help to accelerate the drug development pipeline – it could save between five and 10 years within that process, compared to taking a new drug through clinical trials for the very first time.' Helen Matthews, chief executive of Cure Parkinson's, said the iLCT was originally set up to identify drugs that can potentially 'slow down, stop or reverse Parkinson's'. She added: 'It was through this programme that we realised that there were so many drugs that were also being looked at in the dementia field and there were commonalities there in terms of the drugs looking to reduce inflammation, or whatever it might be, there were specific pathways that those drugs were working on that could be beneficial for both disease areas. 'So given that we were already doing the (work) every year, it made sense to join forces in this way, just to add efficiencies. 'Because if you're looking at the same drugs, we'll only do that digging once, you know, only do that compilation of the dossiers once, so that you can actually take the learning for both diseases and then actually look and see which might be beneficial.' She said that the 'sharing of knowledge and digging' could also be shared with other disease areas, such as MS. And on lecanemab and donanemab, Dr Scales added: '(These) were the first disease-targeting therapies that have been licensed in the UK, but obviously are not available on the NHS at the moment. 'They showed for the very first time that we were able to alter the course of the disease. 'And what we're looking forward to now is what the next generation of treatments can bring us and how we can target different parts of the disease.' Dr Lucy Devendra, head of research at Alzheimer's Society, said: 'Repurposing medicines which are already known to be safe can help us find new treatments for the diseases that cause dementia much quicker. 'Although it is still early days, it's encouraging to see a renewed focus on this type of research and development.'
The Independent
06-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Early symptoms of Alzheimer's can now be detected with a blood test
A new blood test for Alzheimer's disease has been found to accurately detect early symptoms of the illness, according to new research from the Mayo Clinic. The study, which was carried out on more than 500 people in an outpatient memory clinic, found the blood test was highly accurate, with 95 per cent sensitivity in picking up people with memory problems, and 82 per cent specificity in ruling out people without dementia. Dr Gregg Day, who led the study in the Alzheimer's and Dementia journal, said the test was as good as more invasive tests currently in use, and is much more convenient and cost-effective. Dr Richard Oakley, associate director for research and innovation at the Alzheimer's Society in the UK, said the results 'suggest this test is very accurate' and could be used alongside other tests and observations from a trained health professional. The Blood Biomarker Challenge, supported by the Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimer's Research UK and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, aims to bring blood tests for dementia diagnosis to the NHS by 2029.
