Alzheimer’s breakthrough ‘within next five years’

A drug could provide a breakthrough for Alzheimer’s disease within the next five years, British scientists have said.

People aged 55 to 90 are currently being recruited to a final-stage study in the US, which will examine if the drug solanezumab slows the cognitive and functional decline of people with mild Alzheimer’s.

Previous trials of the drug — made by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly — have shown no effect in people with later stages of the disease but there are signs it could be effective at an earlier stage.