Tackling gaps in developing life-changing treatments for dementia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Genetics

Background:

• The G8 dementia summit in 2013 aimed to fast-track disease-modifying dementia treatments by 2025.
• Existing initiatives have been established to achieve this ambitious goal.
• A 2018 meeting convened experts to identify and address unmet needs in dementia research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and highlight areas in dementia research not covered by current initiatives.
• To develop a strategic action plan addressing these research gaps.
• To provide recommendations for achieving the G8 dementia summit's treatment goals.

Main Methods:

• A meeting of leading neurodegeneration research experts was hosted by Alzheimer's Research UK.
• Expert views were gathered to identify and review critical research gaps.
• A strategic action plan was developed based on expert consensus.

Main Results:

• Six key areas for advancement were identified: genetic risk factor translation, neuronal resilience understanding, drug-target validation, clinical trial subject selection, drug-target engagement assessment, and innovative clinical trial designs for earlier detection.
• The plan emphasizes translating genetic discoveries into biological understanding.
• Enhanced understanding of neuronal resilience is crucial for novel drug targets.

Conclusions:

• Addressing identified research gaps is critical for developing life-changing dementia treatments.
• The proposed action plan provides a roadmap to accelerate progress towards the 2025 dementia treatment goals.
• Significant advances are needed in fundamental research, drug development processes, and clinical trial methodologies.