Seven research centres across the UK have begun recuiting for the SCarlet RoAD study, which will look at investigational medication for the treatment of prodromal Alzheimer's disease.

Prodromal AD is a form of mental illness where a persons ability to perform daily activities is not diminished enough to be diagnosable as dementia but memory loss is worse than that from the normal ageing process.

Until recently, people with prodromal AD would merely be considered to showing symptoms of old age which is why Dr Roger Bullock, Chief Investigator of the UK study, believes it is so important.

"Research studies are extremely important in the development of new treatments for diseases, so we are very pleased that these centres are part of the Scarlet RoAD study, as we are hoping that findings from the study will progress the understanding and hopefully the treatment of prodromal Alzheimer’s disease," he said.

The international study will take place across 100 centres in 15 countries, with the UK centres in Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Merseyside, Oxford, Southampton, and Swindon currently looking for people who:
• Are aged between 50 and 85 years
• Have noticed (and someone else has noticed) a gradual decline in memory over the last 12 months
• Are not currently taking any medications for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
• Have a friend or relative who is able to say how they are managing with daily activities and who is willing to provide information at clinic visits when appropriate
• Are interested in participating in a study that lasts for two years and five months and which will involve visits to a clinic at least once every month throughout this period