A national clinical trial across the UK
Speeding up the search for Alzheimer's treatments
AD-SMART tests more than one medicine at once, so we can find out sooner which ones help people living with Alzheimer's.
600,000
people living with Alzheimer's in the UK
2
medicines currently being tested
30+
NHS sites opening nationally
1,200
participants to be recruited
Why this trial matters
We urgently need effective treatments for people living with Alzheimer's
Around 600,000 people in the UK live with Alzheimer's. AD-SMART (Alzheimer’s disease Systematic Multi-arm Adaptive Randomised Trial) is testing whether medicines already approved for other conditions, and known to be safe, could also help people living with the disease.
By testing several medicines at the same time in separate groups of participants, the trial can get answers much faster. A treatment that is not helping can be stopped early, and a new one added in its place.
How the trial works
A smart trial design
Multiple treatments at once
Each medicine is tested in its own group of people, at the same time.
One shared comparison group
Results are compared with one group taking a dummy medicine (placebo). That means more people receive an active treatment than in a normal trial.
Checked as we go
We look at the results at regular stages. Medicines that are not working are stopped, and new ones can be added.
The medicines being tested
Two medicines already approved for other conditions
Both are already known to be safe. If either helps people with Alzheimer's, it could reach them much sooner than a brand-new medicine.
Metformin
Used to treat type 2 diabetes.
Atomoxetine
Used to treat ADHD.
More to come
New medicines can join the trial as research brings them forward.
The first two medicines were chosen by an international panel of experts, working with people with lived experience of Alzheimer's.
Who the trial is for
People with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's
AD-SMART is open to people with a confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer's, or mixed dementia (Alzheimer's and vascular dementia).
I am living with Alzheimer's
Find out if the trial might be right for you, and how to get in touch.
I am a family member or carer
You can look into the trial on someone's behalf.
I am a GP or healthcare professional
Information to share with patients, resources for sites and emergency unblinding.
“For too long, Alzheimer's research has moved at the pace of one drug, one trial, one answer, sometimes taking a decade or more before we know if we've found something that works. We are applying advances from cancer and other conditions to accelerate testing of treatments for people with Alzheimer's disease.”
Prof Paresh Malhotra, AD-SMART Chief Investigator
Could you take part?
If you are 55 or over and have a confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer's or mixed dementia, our recruitment coordinator would like to hear from you.