UK launches national dementia registry to speed up search for treatments

The UK has launched a national dementia registry called BARBARA (Brain Ageing Registry for Biomarkers, Access to Trials, Research and Adoption) to speed up the search for treatments.

BARBARA links 180 existing dementia research databases and population health studies to efficiently identify suitable clinical trial participants.

The registry is funded jointly by the UK government, charities, and the pharmaceutical industry, aiming to boost life sciences investment and improve R&D competitiveness.

The platform is designed to help drug companies quickly recruit participants and give people with dementia or at risk better access to appropriate studies.

BARBARA also supports early detection through emerging blood biomarkers, enabling enrollment before clear clinical symptoms appear.

The total investment for the platform is expected to be announced later this year.