Vaccination for over-50s against Alzheimer’s in 10 years but it will cost the NHS £9bn

DRUGS to vaccinate everyone over the age of 50 against Alzheimer’s could be available within 10 years, but would cost the NHS £9 billion, a report has shown.

Analysis commissioned by Alzheimer’s Research UK found that drugs to halt, slow or reverse the disease could be available in as little as three years with major vaccine and screening programmes possible within a decade.

But dementia experts warned that demand from patients would be “instant and huge” and called on the NHS to act now to make sure funds were in place for when the breakthroughs occurred. Already 12 Alzheimer’s drugs are in late Phase III trials, the final hurdle before licensing.

Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “With over one million people expected to be living with dementia by 2025, we have a duty to ensure that people with dementia and their families can benefit.

“While our report highlights a number of challenges that could affect the roll-out of future dementia treatments in the NHS, we believe these challenges can be overcome if we act now.” The charity commissioned experts at the London School of Economics to model the impact of five hypothetical Alzheimer’s treatments.

Currently, there is no “disease modifying” treatment. The most patients can hope for is something that lessens the symptoms. But the 12 drugs coming through the pipeline could provide a lifeline. Several vaccine-like treatments – which work more like a “statin for the brain” than a traditional jab – are at an earlier stage of development. The report estimates that a vaccine could prevent around 70 per cent of Alzheimer’s cases.