Global snapshot of Alzheimer’s research offers new hope

Every year, world‑leading dementia researcher Dr Jeffrey Cummings releases a global snapshot of Alzheimer’s trials – and the 2026 update has just been published. 

Right now, researchers are evaluating 158 medicines across 192 trials – marking an impressive 40% rise over the past decade. This year’s review also shows the most diverse Alzheimer’s drug pipeline to date. 

The field is undergoing a pivotal shift, moving beyond its long-standing focus on amyloid – a protein central to Alzheimer’s disease.  

Amyloid‑targeting drugs now make up just 20% of the pipeline, down from one third a decade ago. Treatments designed to address tau, reduce inflammation or rebalance the immune system have risen sharply. 

Drugs are being tested across individuals at every stage of dementia, including in people who have no symptoms but are at risk, and those in more advanced stages.  

In short, that’s a great step forward. The more potential medicines we test, the greater our chances of finding treatments that help people with Alzheimer’s live better for longer. 

Dr Sheona Scales, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, says: “Millions of people continue to be affected by dementia, and they deserve better treatments than the ones available today.   

“Recent debate has highlighted the need for safer and more effective treatments. That means broadening our approach beyond amyloid, and this report shows that change is already happening.” 

Treatments being tested for Alzheimer’s disease

Currently, 192 clinical trials are underway across the globe compared to 182 in 2025. These are exploring various types of drugs and treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. 

Around three-quarters of medicines being tested are designed to tackle the underlying disease (disease-modifying treatments), similar to last year’s figure. 

A further 18% of drugs aim to improve memory and thinking or ease day-to-day symptoms of Alzheimer’s, while 10% target neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as agitation or anxiety.  

Repurposed drugs also make up 35% of medicines in the pipeline. For example, atomoxetine, originally used for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is being tested in a Phase 2 trial in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early Alzheimer’s to see if it can slow cognitive decline.   

There are several trials exploring combinations of treatments addressing different biological pathways too. This includes a Phase 2 study testing a vaccine targeting tau – another key protein involved in Alzheimer’s – alongside an anti-amyloid drug.    

Of the Phase 3 trials, eight will finish in 2026, while results from the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 3 trial may also be available this year. This trial is evaluating donanemab — a drug licensed for Alzheimer’s treatment in the UK — in people who show signs of amyloid in the brain but have not yet developed symptoms. 

Barriers to developing new Alzheimer’s treatments 

Despite this progress, Dr Sheona Scales warns that people with Alzheimer’s in the UK could be missing out on opportunities to take part in trials testing potential treatments. 

The UK runs about 10% of global Alzheimer’s drug trials, yet fewer than 1,000 of 600,000 people living with the disease are enrolled in Phase 3 studies.

A major barrier to taking part in trials is getting an accurate diagnosis. In the UK, one in three people are living with dementia without being formally diagnosed. 

Healthcare professionals are also not discussing research opportunities as often as they could. This is partly due to growing NHS workloads leaving clinicians with limited time to talk about or support involvement in research.  

And for people who want to participate in research, a lack of signposting means many are never offered the chance. 

Dr Sheona Scales says: “With a growing number of experimental medicines entering the pipeline, more people than ever will be needed to take part in clinical trials. 

“And without a larger and more diverse range of trial participants, the UK will increasingly miss out on the opportunity to host new trials. This means people won’t have access to the next generation of Alzheimer’s treatments.”   

Benefits of taking part in clinical trials 

David Radford, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease, was previously part of the donanemab clinical trial. 

He encourages others living with Alzheimer’s to get involved, believing that taking part could help shape a better future for everyone affected by the disease. 

He says: “I found out I was eligible to take part in the donanemab trial due to my early diagnosis. I was certain I wanted to do it. I had nothing to lose and if it didn’t work for me it might help others in the future.  

“I passed the assessments and started the trial in spring 2023. It involved fortnightly infusions of the drug for six months followed by monthly infusions for a year.  

“There were no side effects, I was monitored throughout and the whole experience was positive. By September 2024, the trial had finished and even though my existing symptoms remain, they haven’t got any worse.  

“Being a drug trial participant is something I would recommend to anyone who has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, if you get the chance. It could change the future for you and your loved ones as it has for me.  

“I know  I’ve been very fortunate. Everyone should have the same opportunity I had – to get an early and accurate diagnosis, join a trial, and benefit from the latest treatments.”  

The future of Alzheimer’s treatments

Over the last decade the Alzheimer’s drug pipeline has grown significantly with researchers exploring a wider range of targets than ever before. 

But even as new potential treatments enter trials, research is revealing more about how Alzheimer’s starts and progresses. 

Despite the complexity of Alzheimer’s disease, we believe there are three fundamental things that treatments will need to do, to slow, stop and reverse the disease: 

• Remove proteins that build up in the brain (as lecanemab and donanemab do) 

• Protect brain cells from the effects of diseases that cause dementia 

• Restore damage that has been caused by disease 

It’s likely that, just as with diseases like cancer, truly effective treatment will involve a combination of therapies, each targeting different disease processes. So, it’s encouraging to see early combination treatment approaches now being tested in Alzheimer’s trials. 

Our work at the Drug Discovery Alliance (DDA) is also fuelling dementia drug discovery by uniting academia and industry to turn lab breakthroughs into potential treatments faster. This includes research aimed at removing harmful proteins, protecting vulnerable brain cells and restoring damage caused by disease. 

How to take part in clinical trials 

As the pipeline of potential Alzheimer’s treatments expands and becomes more diverse, we need more people than ever to take part in research studies, so we can reach a cure faster.  

Alzheimer’s Research UK is a partner charity of  Join Dementia Research, which matches volunteers to studies in their area. 

You can find out more about how to sign up here. 

Read the review

The annual review was published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions on Tuesday 5th May at 12:00 BST. Its research was led by Dr Jeffrey Cummings, Research Professor at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.   

You can read it here. 

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