Alzheimer’s: the ‘10 early warning signs’ and the 158 treatments currently being trialled worldwide

“The sooner you know, the more you can do”: a diagnosis of dementia is crucial. This slogan, which might seem obvious for any illness, is dramatically apt and urgent in the case of Alzheimer’s. Because only prompt intervention, should more ‘early warning’ symptoms of this form of dementia appear, can optimise both the care provided to patients and carers and the effectiveness of treatments, which are currently only available for the early stages. It is no coincidence that this is precisely the slogan launched by Alzheimer’s Disease International for September – the global month dedicated to the condition.

The campaign, which is being relaunched to mark World Alzheimer’s Day on 21 September, also highlights 10 warning signs that should not be overlooked: memory loss, difficulty carrying out everyday tasks, problems with language, disorientation in time and space, impaired judgement, difficulty keeping track of things, misplacing objects, changes in mood and behaviour, difficulty understanding visual and spatial information, and withdrawal from work or social activities.

An Alzheimer’s diagnosis is the key to accessing a wide range of treatment, care and support options, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological. There are 158 drugs currently being evaluated in over 192 clinical trials worldwide, eight of which are in ‘Phase III’ and due to reach the final stages in 2026. These are the figures emerging from the 2026 World Report published by Alzheimer’s Disease International to mark the 33rd World Alzheimer’s Day and presented in Italy by Alzheimer Italia.

This document focuses on clinical research into dementia, which is currently experiencing unprecedented growth: studies have shown for the first time that certain treatments can slow the progression of the condition. However, the report warns that this progress risks slowing down due to the difficulty in recruiting participants: around 55,000 volunteers are needed to support ongoing studies, but the very stringent selection criteria mean that at least 350,000 people need to be recruited to reach this target. The barriers to participation stem from difficulties in accessing specialist tests and, above all, from the often delayed diagnosis: globally, it is estimated that 75 per cent of people living with some form of dementia do not receive a formal diagnosis, a figure that can reach 90 per cent in some countries. This also affects the potential of new treatments, which are most effective in the early stages of the condition.

This is another reason why Alzheimer Italia, to mark the 15th World Alzheimer’s Month, is supporting ADI’s campaign ‘The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters’, which encourages people to talk openly about dementia and to seek information and support.