Future Alzheimer’s pills could stop disease before it starts

Scientists are heralding a “new era” in the fight against dementia, with oral medications to prevent or slow Alzheimer’s disease expected to emerge in the coming years, experts have announced.

Professor Jeff Cummings of the University of Nevada says advances in science are close to producing medicines that could be used worldwide, including in remote and under-resourced regions, effectively “democratising” dementia care.

The breakthrough follows the 2024 approval of the first disease-modifying treatments – lecanemab and donanemab – in several western nations.

While these drugs slow decline by about 30%, their high cost and complex administration requirements limit widespread access.

Tablet versions of existing treatments are already in trials, with results expected in late 2025. These include a form of semaglutide, currently known for its use in weight loss as Ozempic, which scientists believe could help reduce brain inflammation associated with Alzheimer’s.

An estimated 50 million people globally live with dementia, with over two-thirds in low- and middle-income countries.

While current treatments cost between £20,000-£25,000 annually per patient, researchers are working towards more affordable and accessible options.

Cummings believes that understanding of the disease has advanced so significantly that preventing Alzheimer’s entirely could be possible within his lifetime.

Currently, experts estimate 40% of cases could be prevented by addressing risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and air pollution.

However, Paola Barbarino, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Disease International, emphasises that both cost reductions and attitude changes in healthcare systems worldwide are crucial for meaningful progress in global dementia care.