September 18, 2012

Alzheimer’s disease: causes, treatments, diagnosis, prevention

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) poses a great challenge both to society and the scientific community. Dementia, a large proportion of which is AD, affects around 35 million people worldwide. This number is expected to double every 20 years.  Whilst drugs are available to help manage the symptoms of AD, so far a treatment to halt or reverse it has remained elusive. Recent stage III clinical trials have returned negative results. Despite hundreds of papers studying AD, it can feel like to we are not getting anywhere – but researchers disagree. 

Speakers came to the Science Media Centre to answer such questions such as:

1. What are the leading theories of the cause of AD and what progression has there been over the last 20 years?
2. Why have recent stage III clinical trials failed, and what does this mean for the validity of theories of AD?
3. Apart from finding the elusive cure, are there other critical issues we should consider? For example, earlier diagnosis, prevention, and better symptomatic medications.

Speakers:

Dr Craig Richie – Honorary Consultant and R&D Director West London Mental Health Trust and Senior Lecturer, Centre for Mental Health, Imperial College London

Dr Eric Karran – Director of Research, Alzheimer’s Research UK