Alzheimer’s data and the state of its research

Alzheimer’s data speak for themselves: it is currently estimated that in Spain there are 900,000 people affected, and this figure could double over the next two decades due to increased life expectancy. If an effective treatment that modifies the course of the disease is not found, dementia could affect more than 150 million people over the age of 40 worldwide by 2050.

Likewise, according to the World Health Organization, Alzheimer’s disease is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability, affecting 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 and one third of those over 85.

In addition to its prevalence, the cost associated with Alzheimer’s disease is highly significant. In Spain, families bear 87% of the total cost of the disease, representing approximately €35,000 per patient. On average, these families devote 70 hours per week to caring for their loved ones, with 80% of patients being cared for by family members, most of them women.

On the other hand, two out of three Spaniards say they know someone who suffers from or has suffered from Alzheimer’s disease (in 27% of cases, a close family member). The disease ranks second among health concerns in Spain, very close behind cancer, and is the leading concern among older people.

In short, increased longevity is exacerbating what is already a major health and social problem. Moreover, there are still no effective treatments in Europe to slow its progression. We are facing a structural and silent pandemic that, unless the situation changes, will be unsustainable for affected individuals and their families, as well as for public health and social protection systems.

A new approach to a disease with more than a century of history

At the beginning of the 20th century, Alois Alzheimer first described the symptoms and neuropathological characteristics of this disease. More than a century later, there is still no cure, underscoring the need to continue investing in research to understand its causes and progression, in order to offer more effective treatments.

Although scientific progress may seem slow, it is constant and steady, and it always ends up providing the answers needed to tackle any disease. Today, we are at a crucial moment in the approach to Alzheimer’s disease, with a paradigm shift based on three fundamental pillars: prevention, biomarkers, and new treatments.

The role of prevention

Although age is the main risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease, it is not an inevitable consequence of ageing. On the one hand, there are non-modifiable risk factors, such as age or genetics (some genes are associated with a higher likelihood of developing the disease, although they are not decisive, as Alzheimer’s has a clearly genetic component in only around 1% of cases). On the other hand, there are modifiable risk factors on which we can act to prevent the disease, such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and habits related to nutrition, physical, cognitive and social activity, as well as sleep.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the link between cardiovascular and brain health. Therefore, what is good for the heart is also good for the brain. Research indicates that, if modifiable risk factors are controlled throughout life, up to 45% of dementia cases could be prevented or delayed.

The Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), the Pasqual Maragall Foundation’s research centre, specialises in prevention and early detection. Among its many studies, findings stand out on how omega-3 in the diet can enhance brain resilience against the disease. In addition, significant links have been identified between sleep quality and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in people who do not yet show cognitive impairment.

The biomarker revolution

Biomarkers are biological indicators of any kind that can be measured, and whose presence and intensity provide information about the development of a pathology. They are increasingly essential in research into neurodegenerative diseases, playing a key role in both early diagnosis and in monitoring the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

The BBRC has become one of the world leaders in research into blood plasma biomarkers for the detection of Alzheimer’s disease. These blood-based biomarkers have great potential to be used as cost-effective and non-invasive screening tools, opening up an exceptional opportunity to predict changes before clinical symptoms appear.

The arrival of new drugs

After two decades without significant pharmacological advances in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease—during which only medications to relieve symptoms were available—research has succeeded in developing new drugs capable of slowing or halting the progression of the disease.

Some of these drugs have already been approved in countries such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, Israel and China. Although they have not yet been approved in Europe, the progress is encouraging. Most promising of all, their mechanism of action has been shown to work, opening the door to a new generation of medicines that offer an optimistic outlook for the development of more effective and safer treatments.

It is crucial to continue research in order to improve early detection of the disease, optimise the use of biomarkers for diagnosis, and determine which populations could benefit from these treatments. At the same time, healthcare systems are preparing to implement them as soon as they become available.

The Pasqual Maragall Foundation’s call on World Alzheimer’s Day

This year, on the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day, the Pasqual Maragall Foundation has launched the awareness campaign “Alzheimer’s research has a name and a surname”, focused on highlighting the loss of identity experienced by people living with this disease and the need to invest in more and better research.

In this context, the Foundation invites the public to join the initiative through alzheimernombreyapellido.org, with the aim of prioritising the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and increasing resources devoted both to research and to supporting affected families.