ReMemBr Group, a joint University of Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust research group based at Southmead Hospital, is one of 250 study sites around the world taking part in the Generation Program, a multinational trial of two new drugs which may be able to prevent or delay the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
Currently there are 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK which will increase to over one million by 2025 and over two million by 2050.
The aim of the five-to-eight-year research is to trial two new drugs that may delay or prevent symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia in healthy people who have a genotype which indicates they are at higher risk of developing the disease.
The researchers are looking for people with the e4 type of the ApoE gene which is a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. People with one or two copies of this genotype are at higher risk for developing the disease.
The Generation program is looking to recruit volunteers at Southmead Hospital with no diagnosis of dementia and between the ages of 60-75, who have one or two copies of the APOE4 gene in order to select a ‘higher risk’ population for the study drugs.
Participants have a mouth swab taken to find out their ApoE genotype, if they have one or two copies of e4 and pass a number of other tests they will be invited to take part in the trial which lasts between five and eight years.
This type of research, targeting a ‘higher risk’ population without any symptoms, is vital to the development of any treatments in this disease area.
Dr Victoria Sanderson, dementia research study doctor at North Bristol NHS Trust, said: “We want to be able to treat people with Alzheimer’s dementia at an earlier stage in the disease process, instead of treating at a late stage as is the case currently.”
It is a really exciting trial in which to be involved and one that could have a real impact on people’s lives. If you are between 60 and 75 with no diagnosis of dementia please do get in touch and see if you are eligible to take part.
If you would like to get involved in the trial please email research.volunteer@nbt.nhs.uk or call 0117 414 8238.
To find out more about the multinational trial visit the Generation Program at www.generationprogram.uk