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The Independent
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
‘Hope on the horizon' as drugs assessed for Alzheimer's prevention
Dementia experts have said that 'hope is on the horizon' after a new review shows a rise in the number of potential drugs that could treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease. Some 138 treatments are being assessed in clinical trials. A third of drugs currently being trialled are 'repurposed' medications that are already being used to tackle other diseases, including diabetes, multiple sclerosis and cholesterol, according to the new review. Alzheimer's disease" data-source=""> One such trial is assessing whether semaglutide, the main ingredient for the weight loss and diabetes drug Ozempic and weight loss drug Wegovy, can slow the progression of dementia. And four late-stage trials are looking at preventing disease. Experts said that drugs targeting amyloid protein build up in the brain, such as lecanemab and donanemab, are 'only one part of the overall strategy' as they expressed excitement over the variety of new drugs, which are being tested among patients. The new review of Alzheimer's disease in clinical trials in 2025 found 182 clinical trials assessing the impact of 138 drugs. The number of trials represents an 11% increase on the previous year, according to the review, which was led by an expert from the University of Nevada in the US and has been published in the journal Alzheimer's and Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions. Commenting on the paper, Dr Sheona Scales, director of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: 'This year has really given us real cause for optimism.' She said that as well as more drugs coming through the pipeline, the treatment targets are 'more diverse' and 'looking at all stages of the disease'. She added: 'What this paper is showing us is that the pipeline of drug development is growing, it's diversifying and accelerating.' 'This latest report shows us that there is hope on the horizon for people with Alzheimer's, building on lecanemab and donanemab.' Dr Emma Mead, chief scientific officer of the Oxford Drug Discovery Institute, added: 'Today we are at a tipping point in dementia research as we understand more and more about the diseases that drive dementia. 'This gives us opportunities to slow and ultimately stop this devastating condition and today's announcement demonstrates that researchers are able to translate these understandings towards potential new treatments.' James Rowe, professor of cognitive neurology at the University of Cambridge and consultant neurologist, said: 'What strikes me is not just the number of new drugs, which is increasing year on year, but their range of targets (and) the range in which they work, giving us multiple shots on goal.' On the drugs which are being investigated for the prevention of disease, Prof Rowe said: 'One of the most exciting things of this report is the number of large-scale late-stage trials on prevention. 'And the aspiration to prevent, not just treat, is starting to be seen in the figures we see in these charts today.' He added: 'One way this can work is you take a treatment that you show to be working in people with symptoms with the illness, and then you simply bring it forward by some years. 'The ones that are in trial at the moment are really… bringing forward an effective treatment to earlier stage.' For instance, people with a genetic risk of Alzheimer's could receive some drugs earlier to see if they protect against the disease. On the repurposing of current drugs, Dr Mead said that it can usually take 10 to 15 years for new drugs to be tested and approved for use. 'Being able to repurpose drugs licensed for other health conditions could help to accelerate progress and help to open up other avenues to prevent or treat dementia causing diseases,' she said. 'A really promising example of this is the drug semaglutide, which is currently being trialled in people with mild cognitive impairment.' Meanwhile, academics said lecanemab and donanemab, which can be used for treating mild cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's patients, are an 'important first step' in the battle against the disease. The treatments were initially approved for UK use by regulators but then deemed not cost-effective for NHS use. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) is taking more evidence on donanemab and lecanemab and is expected to announce its decision in the summer. Dr Scales added: 'Lecanemab and donanemab have represented a huge leap forward in our understanding and ability to be able to treat Alzheimer's disease. 'What they've done is they've proved that we're able to modify the course of Alzheimer's disease, and what that has done is opened up the door to future treatments that we hope are more effective, easier to deliver and and able to deliver for our patients.' She said studies are showing 'even more complexities' around Alzheimer's and that in the future, people may be treated with a combination of drugs, depending on when they are diagnosed and the type of dementia they have. Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research at Alzheimer's Society, said: 'This paper shows that 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Alzheimer's disease drug development. 'With more trials under way than ever before and more drugs entering the pipeline, there is hope on the horizon for the nearly one million people living with dementia in the UK.'
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Study Links Herpes Virus To Alzheimer's Risk, But Experts Urge Caution
A new study published in the scientific journal BMJ Open has found that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which causes cold sores, is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. However, experts emphasize that the findings show correlation, not causation, and more research is needed. The study, conducted by researchers at Gilead Sciences Inc., analyzed health insurance data from 344,628 U.S. adults aged 50 and older diagnosed with Alzheimer's or related dementia between 2006 and 2021, each matched with a control of similar age, sex, and region without neurological disorders. Of those with Alzheimer's, 0.44% had a prior HSV-1 diagnosis, compared to 0.24% of controls, suggesting an 80% higher relative risk for Alzheimer's among those with HSV-1. The absolute numbers, however, remain small. Additionally, individuals treated with antiviral medication for HSV-1 showed a 17% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's compared to untreated counterparts. 'Despite the large sample size, this research has limitations partly due to only using health records and administrative claims data,' said Dr. Sheona Scales, Director of Research at Alzheimer's Research UK, in a statement to the Science Media Centre. 'Most people infected with HSV-1 don't have any symptoms, so some infections might not have been recorded.' Dr. David Vickers of the University of Calgary was more critical, stating, 'This pharma-funded research exaggerates the role of HSV-1, failing to appreciate its absence in 99.56 percent of [Alzheimer's disease] cases.' The World Health Organization estimates two-thirds of people under 50 globally carry HSV-1, a neurotropic virus that can infect nerve cells and often lies dormant after initial infection, sometimes reactivating to cause cold sores. Previous studies have detected HSV-1 DNA in postmortem Alzheimer's brains and shown it can trigger amyloid-beta plaque accumulation, a hallmark of the disease, in lab settings. A 2024 Journal of Virology study found HSV-1 can enter mouse brains, causing persistent inflammation, noting evidence for its role in Alzheimer's as 'overwhelming.' 'We're not saying viruses explain everything. But they may be central to it. This is no longer a fringe theory – it's the next phase of Alzheimer's research, and we're pursuing it,' Dr. Bryce Vissel of St. Vincent's Hospital Sydney told the Australian Science Media Centre. However, Professor Tara Spires-Jones of the University of Edinburgh cautioned, 'It is important to note that HSV-1 infection, which is extremely common in the population, is by no means a guarantee that someone will develop Alzheimer's.' The study's reliance on insurance data raises concerns, as HSV-1 is often underdiagnosed, potentially skewing results. It also lacks data on infection frequency or severity, which could influence risk. 'The study's data source makes its findings ungeneralisable, and it overstates a minor infection as a 'public health priority' to justify unnecessary treatment,' Vickers added. Other factors, like genetics, lifestyle, or healthcare access, may also contribute to Alzheimer's risk among HSV-1 carriers. Some experts see potential in antiviral treatments. 'With many GPs and the population being unaware of the dementia related benefits of treating HSV infections and preventing VZV activation through vaccination, it is time to call for actions informing those working in primary care as well as the population at large,' said Professor Cornelia van Duijn of the University of Oxford. Dr. Richard Oakley of Alzheimer's Society advised, 'If you are worried about a cold sore or your general health, be sure to seek the appropriate help from a health professional.' 'More research is needed to understand the best way to protect our brains from Alzheimer's disease as we age,' Spires-Jones said. For now, experts recommend focusing on proven brain health strategies like exercise, sleep, and a balanced diet.
