Dr Rosie: Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Health Update with Dr Rosie: Alzheimer’s Awareness Month – hope, progress and practical steps

This month marks Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and in the latest Health Update, Dr Rosie shines a light on what Alzheimer’s disease is, how it’s diagnosed, the treatments available today—and the real reasons for hope as research accelerates.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia in the UK. It’s a progressive condition that affects memory, thinking and other mental abilities, developing gradually over many years. Early signs often include forgetting recent conversations or events, misplacing items, struggling to find the right word or having trouble with planning and decision-making.

As the disease advances, people may experience increasing confusion, disorientation, mood changes, difficulties with speech and language, and eventually challenges with everyday tasks such as eating, moving around or personal care.

How is it diagnosed?

There’s no single test for Alzheimer’s. A GP will ask about symptoms, carry out memory and thinking checks, and may order blood tests or brain scans to rule out other causes. If needed, patients are referred to a specialist memory clinic for further assessment.

Treatment options today

While there’s currently no cure, several treatments can help manage symptoms and, in some cases, slow progression in the early stages:

Standard medications – Cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine) and memantine are widely used to support memory, thinking and daily functioning.

New disease-modifying therapies – Anti-amyloid drugs such as lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla) have been shown in clinical trials to slow cognitive decline by around 25–30% in people with early Alzheimer’s by targeting harmful protein plaques in the brain.

A growing pipeline of hope

Research activity is at an all-time high. In 2026, there are 192 clinical trials underway worldwide, testing 158 different medicines—about a 40% increase over the past decade. Around three-quarters of these are disease-modifying treatments aimed at tackling the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s, with new approaches including vaccines targeting tau protein, repurposed drugs and multi-target therapies.

What you can do now

Although the exact triggers for Alzheimer’s remain unclear—and it can affect anyone, regardless of how sharp or clever they are—there are practical steps that may help reduce risk and support brain health:

• Look after your general health – Manage blood pressure, stay physically active, eat well and avoid smoking.
• Stay socially connected – Regular interaction with friends, family and community groups matters.
• Keep your brain active – Puzzles, crosswords, Sudoku, quizzes and other mentally stimulating activities can help.
• Check your hearing – Untreated hearing loss is a known risk factor; getting your hearing tested and using hearing aids if needed can make a difference.

Listen again

Tune in to Dr Rosie’s Health Update for a compassionate, hopeful conversation about Alzheimer’s—what we know, what’s changing, and how small everyday choices can support brain health for you and your loved ones.

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HEALTH