£16.5m UK research initiative targets neurodegenerative diseases
The UK is investing £16.5m to explore new ways to slow or prevent neurodegenerative diseases. The programme focuses on sleep, blood vessel health, and combination drug therapies to intervene before symptoms become irreversible.
Supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC), five studies aim to uncover treatment pathways for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and related conditions that affect tens of millions worldwide.
UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “These studies show what can happen when industry, academia, charities and patients work together. Understanding neurodegenerative diseases early is critical. It will help us develop treatments that could one day stop dementia in its tracks.”
The importance of early intervention
More than 55 million people globally live with dementia, costing over $1.3 trillion annually. Alzheimer’s disease develops slowly, with harmful brain changes occurring long before memory loss or confusion appear.
Scientists increasingly agree that early intervention offers the best chance of preserving independence and quality of life.
SleepBoost: Harnessing the brain’s night-time repair
One flagship study, SleepBoost, is led by the University of Bristol with £4.3m in funding. Researchers will investigate whether improving deep sleep, or slow-wave sleep, can slow Alzheimer’s-related brain damage.
Recruitment will start later this year at 11 UK research sites. Participants will undergo sleep monitoring, brain scans, blood and spinal fluid tests, and memory assessments. The study aims to include diverse populations, including South Asian communities, who may be at higher risk.
Investigating multiple drivers of neurodegeneration
Other studies target different causes of neurodegenerative diseases:
- The University of Edinburgh and Imperial College London will study cerebral small vessel disease, a key contributor to dementia and stroke.
- University College London will test a dual-drug therapy for Parkinson’s, repurposing existing medications to protect vulnerable brain cells and counter harmful chemical processes.
Researchers will track symptoms digitally and analyse biological samples to see if these strategies slow disease progression.
Industry partnerships accelerate innovation
Each study collaborates with industry partners, giving researchers access to advanced technologies, specialist expertise, and drug development knowledge. These partnerships aim to speed discoveries from lab research to potential treatments.
Experimental medicine connects research with patients
All five projects use experimental medicine, observing biological changes in real time in human participants. This includes monitoring brain activity during sleep, blood flow, and drug responses. The approach aims to produce findings that can quickly move into clinical practice.
Patient involvement shapes research
Alzheimer’s Society helped ensure that patient perspectives guided research design. People with lived experience of dementia reviewed proposals, ensuring studies focus on outcomes that matter most to patients and families.
Translating research into care
Each project aligns with the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme, led by the Office for Life Sciences. This national initiative seeks to shorten the path from discovery to new treatments, helping experimental findings benefit patients more rapidly.
A new era in neurodegenerative research
Together, the five studies represent a coordinated push to rethink treatment approaches. By focusing on early intervention, personalized strategies, and mechanisms such as sleep and vascular health, the programme aims to lay the foundation for a new generation of therapies.
If successful, it could bring hope to millions facing dementia and related conditions worldwide.
