Thousands of dementia patients will be fast-tracked onto clinical trials for new drugs in a major win for the Daily Mail’s Defeating Dementia campaign.
Experts say the £20million scheme will widen participation in cutting-edge trials and accelerate the search for new treatments for the disease.
Over 15,500 people aged 65 to 75 have been invited to join the Dementia Trials Accelerator, which will link leading researchers with suitable volunteers in the UK.
It currently takes up to three years to recruit enough participants to run an 18-month dementia trial – while the average cancer trial takes just 2.3 years from start to finish, including the recruitment phase.
Researchers say ‘chronic under-recruitment’ to clinical trials is one of the biggest barriers to progress in dementia research.
In 2024/25, just 173 patients in England were recruited to late-stage dementia drug trials supported by the NIHR Research Delivery Network – a government-funded body that aids research.
This is nine times fewer than for stroke and coronary heart disease trials and 25 times fewer than for cancer drug trials.
There is currently no cure for the disease and treatments that slow its progress have demonstrated limited success.
Professor Andrew Morris, director of Health Data Research UK, said dementia trials have been held back by the difficulty of enrolling enough participants.
Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP.
The Daily Mail and Alzheimer’s Society have partnered in a drive to beat dementia, which claims 76,000 lives each year and is the UK’s biggest killer.
The Defeating Dementia campaign aims to raise awareness of the disease, in an effort to increase early diagnosis, boost research and improve care.
The Dementia Trials Accelerator is major leap towards achieving these aims and is a collaboration between Health Data Research UK and the UK Dementia Research Institute, funded by the Medical Research Council.
Professor Andrew Morris, director of Health Data Research UK, said: ‘For too long, dementia trials have been held back by the difficulty of enrolling enough participants.
‘The Dementia Trials Accelerator unites patients, universities, two national research institutes and the private sector in a powerful partnership.
‘Together, we will speed up the complex process of identifying and recruiting the right people for dementia clinical trials across the UK – accelerating the search for new treatments, earlier diagnosis and better care.’
There are currently an estimated 982,000 people with dementia in the UK, with this number expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.
The first participants to the Dementia Trials Accelerator have now attended clinics for tests that will help get them onto suitable trials when they are launched.
Professor Fiona Carragher, chief policy and research officer at Alzheimer’s Society, said the Dementia Trials Accelerator is the start of a revolution of the UK’s clinical dementia research landscape.
Those that come forward undertake cognitive tests and provide a blood sample, as well as having their height, weight, and blood pressure measured.
Blood samples are then tested for biomarkers that have been linked to dementia risk. More than 800 people have taken part in just the first few weeks.
By early 2027, the initiative aims to have over 10,000 participants who want to take part in future research to combat the devastating disease.
Participation is currently by invitation only and limited to a subset of people already involved in the REACT study, which examined immunity to Covid-19.
Susie, 75, a participant in the Dementia Trials Accelerator, said: ‘My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
‘Watching her deteriorate with no prospect of a cure was heartbreaking for the whole family.
‘Also, as a retired GP I witnessed first-hand the struggles that those diagnosed with dementia and their loved ones go through.
‘I have three sisters and I am very aware that any one of us could follow the path of our mother.
Dr Zubir Ahmed, health innovation and safety minister, said the results from the trials will hopefully transform the lives of patients for generations to come.
‘This is why I feel so strongly about taking part in research. It is a devastating disease, but we need to tackle it head on.’
Professor Fiona Carragher, chief policy and research officer at Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘The first person to be cured of a disease which causes dementia will be on a clinical trial – this is a powerful reminder of why people living with dementia must have opportunities to take part.
‘Through initiatives like the Dementia Trials Accelerator, we’re beginning to see the revolution of the UK’s clinical dementia research landscape.’
Dr Zubir Ahmed, health innovation and safety minister, said: ‘For too long our ability to find new treatments has been held back by the sheer difficulty of recruiting enough people to clinical trials.
‘This Government is changing that.
‘By bringing together world-class researchers and the power of health data, we are building a pipeline of people who are ready and willing to take part in the trials that will shape the treatments of the future and hopefully transform the lives of patients for generations to come.’
