alzheimers.org.uk

Dr James Pickettjames.pickett@alzheimers.org.uk

Alzheimer’s Society, UK

Our research programmeand the returns from research

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The landscape for funding

in the EU Joint Programming on Neurodegeneration(JPND)

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The landscape for funding in

the UK

Total spend = ~£64 millionSource: Alzheimer’s Research UK annual accounts for 2008-2009

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The landscape for funding

research in Alzheimer’s Society

2011 – 2012 expenditure £62million2011 – 2012 expenditure on research ~£2.5million

Fund research into cause, care, cure and prevention of dementia

Value of portfolio £6million Project grants (24), Fellowships (8), PhD studentships (17)

60% of projects are predominantly animal or cell based projects 40% of projects are human studies (autopsy tissue or patients) 25% of projects involve people with dementia

Involvement of carers and people with dementia

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Outputs of the research grants programme in the last

12 months

Funder of 50 publications – liraglutide prevents AD-like neurodegeneration in pre-clinical models of Alzheimer’s

disease. Journal of Neuroscience.– A review on Alzheimer’s Disease in the leading journal. The Lancet

Completion of several high profile clinical trials– Donepezil and memantine in moderate to severe AD (DOMINO)New England Journal of medicine, Thursday 8 March.– Aromatherapy to treat agitation in dementia

Impact beyond publication– New referral service for people who are Deaf with cognitive complaints– Antipsychotics –development of a best-practice guide with The Department of Health– Development online training resources for GPs on the management of dementia and

behavioural symptoms.

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Impact of research 1989 - 2011

‘…it takes an average of 17 years for only 14 percent of scientific discoveries to become standard treatment in the community…’

Trochim et al, NIH report

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Impact of research 1989 -

2011 How Alzheimer's Society has invested in research 1989 - Sept 2011

39%

11%19%

20%

5%6%

Understanding the underlyingcauses of dementia (£7.4 million)

Improving diagnosis of dementia(£2 million)

Searching for a cure for dementia(£3.6 million)

Tow ards better care for peoplew ith dementia (£3.7 million)

Prevention of dementia andimproving public health (£1 million)

Brain banking (£1.1 million)

£18,800,000

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Estimated breakdown of total funding by cause

62%

5%

4%

1%

28%Alzheimer's disease

Vascular dementia

Dementia w ith lew y bodies

Pick's disease (f ronto-temporaldementia)

All dementia

Impact of research 1989 -

2011

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Impact of research 1989 -

2011

Papers arising from research funding 1989-2010

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Year

No

. o

f p

aper

s

0

50

100

150

200

250

Cu

mu

lati

ve n

o.

of

pap

ers

Knowledge generation

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Impact factor of all Alz Soc Publications

0

510

1520

25

3035

4045

50

1 51 101 151 201

20

10

IF

2010 impact factor

No of pubs

0 to 4 125

4 to 7 50

7 to 10 21

10+ 15

Impact of research 1989 -

2011

£80,000 per

publication

Knowledge generation

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Impact of research 1989 -

2011

Have had an impact in research into cause, care, cure and prevention of dementia:

Tau biologyImportant contributions to the field.

DiagnosisAdvances in MRI, blood biomarkers and improving diagnosis by GPs

Management of behavioural symptoms

FITS trial, CALM-AD

Knowledge generation

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Impact of research 1989 -

2011

Developing leaders in dementia research

36 research fellowships20 PhD studentships

•70 per cent of Alzheimer’s Society research fellows have remained active in dementia research.•60 per cent of our research fellows now hold tenured positions in universities and research institutes.

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Impact of research 1989 -

2011

Tangible improvements for people with dementia and their carers

A standard neuroimaging approachDetection of brain atrophy by MRI is now a recommended approach for diagnosing early changes in dementia and is increasingly beginning to be used in clinical settings.

‘Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred modality to assist with early diagnosis and detect subcortical vascular changes.’National Clinical guideline on supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care

Access to cholinesterase inhibitors in the UKAlzheimer’s Society commissioned research that looked at the views and experiences of patients and carers in using these drugs, and creating novel patient-defined outcome measures. This evidence was crucial in Alzheimer’s Society’s campaigning work against the decision of NICE.

Person centred care as an alternative to antipsychotic medicationThe FITS (focused intervention in training and support demonstrated a 50% reduction in antipsychotic use in care homes. Alzheimer’s Society has now started a role out of this package across the UK.

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Summary

• Research is what many donors and supporters of our organisation wish their money to be spent on.

• Research offers hope to patients and carers.• Research raises awareness of dementia and the profile of our

organisation. • Research can innovate services and provide an evidence base

to campaigns.• Research always adds to knowledge, can train new leaders in

the field and occasionally can provide the breakthroughs that we strive for.

Thank you!