Key facts to help provide clarity on challenges of Alzheimer's

NEW review shows a rise in the number of potential drugs that could treat or prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

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Led by an expert from the University of Nevada in the US and published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions, the review reveals that 182 clinical trials are under way in 2025, a rise of 11% from the previous year, assessing the impact 138 potential drugs.

Notably, one-third of these drugs are repurposed medications originally developed for other conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and high cholesterol.

In response to this encouraging development, Emma Taylor, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, has addressed some common misconceptions about the disease, highlighting six key facts everyone should know about Alzheimer's...

1. Alzheimer's and dementia are not the same thing

“A lot of people get confused between Alzheimer's and dementia and aren't really sure what the difference is,’ recognises Taylor.

“The way I describe it is that dementia is the group of symptoms - so things like memory loss, confusion, personality and behavioural changes - and Alzheimer’s is one of the causes of those symptoms.”

Research generally associates Alzheimer’s with the accumulation of two proteins, amyloid and tau, says Taylor.

“These toxic proteins damage our brain cells, which are what is used to communicate messages throughout our body,” she explains.

“Over time, as more brain cells die, it becomes harder for our brain overall to carry out its normal functions. So, depending on where in the brain the damage starts, that indicates what kind of symptoms someone will experience.