Cognition and Cera expand Alzheimer’s clinical trials access

Cognition Health and Cera have partnered to expand access to Alzheimer’s clinical trials across the UK.

The collaboration links Re:Cognition Health’s specialist brain health clinics and trial expertise with Cera’s 2.5 million monthly home care visits, creating new pathways to identify and support people earlier in their health journey.

By connecting home care with specialist research centres, the partners aim to offer more people the chance to join studies, giving access to advanced assessment and emerging treatments while contributing to future therapies.

Dr Ben Maruthappu MBE, chief executive and founder of Cera, said: “Many older adults are currently ‘invisible’ to the clinical trials research system because they cannot access traditional clinic-centric recruitment.

“By enabling responsible, consented identification and screening within the home, we can bridge the gap between the community and the clinic.

“We are offering the older generation a seat at the table of global drug discovery, ensuring that the path to a cure starts where they are most comfortable—in their own daily lives.”

Re:Cognition Health has contributed to the development of lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla) through international trials, introducing disease-modifying approaches that are reshaping early intervention in Alzheimer’s care.

Older adults remain under-represented in research. NIHR data indicate only about 15 per cent of trial participants are 75 or older, despite high multimorbidity in this group. Dementia trial recruitment in the UK also lags other disease areas.

Through this collaboration, individuals who have not yet accessed specialist memory services can be referred earlier for assessment and potential study participation, with access to new-generation therapies where appropriate.

Cera’s technology-enabled home healthcare model, with daily patient contact and consented data capture, allows timely referral of potential participants from familiar settings to Re:Cognition Health clinics.

Together, the organisations will support earlier and more equitable participation by leveraging Cera’s scale and real-time insights. Carers and nurses deliver visits roughly every second on average, enabling early identification of those who may benefit from memory assessment.

Dr Emer MacSweeney, chief executive and founder of Re:Cognition Health, said: “With one in three people expected to develop dementia in their lifetime, it is essential that we create more inclusive and accessible routes into research.

“This collaboration enables us to extend our reach beyond traditional clinic settings and ensure that people who may benefit from early assessment and research participation are supported to do so.

“Clinical trials offer individuals access to the most advanced diagnostics and emerging treatments, alongside expert medical oversight.

“By identifying people earlier and guiding them through every stage of their journey, we can help improve participants’ experience and potential outcomes, while accelerating the development of the next generation of Alzheimer’s therapies.”