Last Updated on August 23, 2016
A new multimillion pound study, which will see the most thorough and rigorous series of tests ever performed on volunteers to detect the early signs of Alzheimer's disease, has been announced. The Deep and Frequent Phenotyping study is funded by the National Institute of Health Research and the Medical Research Council. It hopes to dramatically improve the success rate of clinical trials for treatments in Alzheimer’s disease.
This landmark £6.9m research project has been designed to identify measureable characteristics, known as biomarkers, which can detect the occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease very early on in the progression of the disease – when a person may have no obvious symptoms.
Between 2002 and 2012, 99% of clinical trials into treatments for Alzheimer’s disease failed. A probable reason for the high failure rate, says the Medical Research Council, is that treatments are being tested on those who already have irreparable damage to the brain. It is likely that treatments will be more effective in slowing or stopping further at onset of dementia at earlier stages of the disease. Also, by targeting people in the earlier stages, it should be possible to design better clinical trials for treatments that make a real difference and improve people’s lives.
The multisite team, led by the University of Oxford, will work with colleagues at eight UK universities and the Alzheimer’s Society, with the project also receiving support from a coalition of biopharma companies.
Together, the researchers will perform up to 50 tests on 250 volunteers from Medical Research Council’s Dementias Platform UK cohorts, including new tests that have never been used before to detect the early signs of Alzheimer's disease. The tests will include wearable devices that will give researchers detailed information on people’s movement and gait, and sophisticated retinal imaging that will look at subtle changes affecting a person’s central and peripheral vision.
These potential new biomarkers will be used alone and alongside tests such as brain imaging and assessment of memory and other cognitive functions. They will allow the researchers to recognise the early stages of the disease and those who may be suitable for trials of possible treatments.
Professor Simon Lovestone, Lead Researcher and Professor of Translational Neuroscience at the University of Oxford, said, ‘We know that Alzheimer’s disease starts long before it is noticed by those with the disease or their doctor. Previous studies have shown changes to the brain as early as 10 to 20 years before symptoms arise. If we can identify the biomarkers present in this very early stage, we have the chance of treating the disease earlier, which is vital if we are to prevent damage to people’s memory and thinking. We’re indebted to those volunteers taking part in the study whose time and effort will make a real difference to our ability to diagnosis and treat this disease.’