ADI releases 2026 World Alzheimer Report ahead of major trial recruitment push
Researchers will need about 55,000 participants to support currently active studies.
MIDDLE EAST—Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) has warned that limited participation in clinical trials could slow advances in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias as researchers evaluate a growing number of potential therapies.
ADI’s latest World Alzheimer Report, titled A New Era in Dementia Clinical Trials, estimates that more than 158 potential therapies are being evaluated in over 192 clinical trials worldwide in 2026.
Researchers will need about 55,000 participants to support currently active studies.
However, stringent eligibility and screening requirements mean that about 350,000 people may need to volunteer to meet recruitment targets.
“This is a moment of real hope for dementia research,” says Chris Lynch, acting Chief Executive of ADI.
He notes that recent trials have shown that some treatments can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, while a growing pipeline of therapies is creating new opportunities for patients.
Trial access remains limited
According to the report, barriers to participation often arise before potential participants reach research centres.
Delayed diagnosis, limited access to specialist testing, travel costs, language barriers, and the need for care partners can prevent people from entering trials.
ADI also reports that almost half of the 6,763 active Alzheimer’s drug trial sites worldwide are located in North America and other high-income countries.
The organisation is calling for greater investment in clinical trial infrastructure in other regions to ensure that research reflects different national, cultural, and genetic populations.
More than 60 million people currently live with dementia globally, and that figure is projected to exceed 139 million by 2050.
More than 60 percent of people living with dementia are already in low- and middle-income countries, where the proportion is expected to rise above 70 percent by 2050.
Rural communities face additional barriers
In Africa and the Middle East, researchers face additional challenges in reaching people outside major cities.
“In Kenya and across other parts of sub Saharan Africa, the majority of the population lives in rural areas, yet most research and clinical trials are targeted towards urban populations,” says Zul Merali, Founding Director of the AKU Brain & Mind Institute.
Merali says researchers need to expand screening and awareness efforts in rural communities to identify people who may be at risk of dementia or eligible for clinical trials.
He also recommends practical measures, including transportation support, to help participants travel to urban research centres.
Community-based approaches, including town hall meetings and culturally informed outreach, could also improve awareness and recruitment, he says.
Participants remain central to research
Clinical trial participation can require considerable time and commitment.
Participants may undergo repeated tests, scans and appointments while adjusting their usual routines, and care partners may also need to provide support.
Bill Yeates, an ADI board member living with young-onset Alzheimer’s disease, says participating in a trial allowed him to contribute to research that could benefit future patients.
Professor Craig Ritchie, chief executive of Scottish Brain Sciences, says the expanding pipeline of treatments and diagnostic tools represents a significant period for brain health research.
He adds that continued participation in research will help scientists develop and evaluate new approaches to detecting and treating neurodegenerative diseases.
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