AD consolition

AD is the most common cause of dementia in people aged > 65 and affects more than 18 people worldwide. This number will increase considerably in the future and will present enormous financial burdens to health care systems. Thus, there is an urgent need for effective medicines. Currently only symptomatic treatment is available. While there is research and development already in this area, much work still is required. This includes: basic research in the pathophysiology of the disease and its risk factors; noninvasive and clinically effective diagnostics tools; wider scale outcome efficacy measures for the disease function and progress and developing medicines that slow progression, halt, or prevent AD from occurring. Additionally, challenges for clinical services include early diagnosis, and intervening early with the most appropriate and effective medicine. 38

There are several barriers to closing the obvious pharmaceutical "gaps" with regard to AD. Specific recommendations include the following:

The EU and EU-based philanthropic organizations need to recognize and help overcome the various scientific and systemic barriers to improving pharmaceutical R&D for Alzheimer disease and provide funding for making animal models more accessible and affordable. Also new grant agreements should be implemented that compensate investigators and institutions while making the models more widely available.  There is a need for improved AD assessment tools, with increased sensitivity and efficiency for patient evaluation for AD primary prevention. More specifically, curtailing time requirements for clinical staff, data monitoring and data entry could decrease costs for trials.

An important research goal should also be the development and evaluation of new instruments in relevant domains that are sensitive, reliable, and valid for detecting changes in normal aging and early AD. Furthermore, it would be helpful if these can be self-administered and not require  significant professional involvement. New uses of technology, such as computerized assessments and telephonic methods are some options and may be desirable in this field.

There needs to be more collaboration and a multidisciplinary approach in the areas of research and development for AD. Neurobiologists, clinicians, medical chemicals need to work together. Funding resources and guidelines that can assist scientists in preclinical drug development is required.

New funding models should be explored which can support core research facilities and non-tenured staff in academic institutions, such as the creation of endowments for facilities and pharmaceutical and biotech consortia.