Re:Cognition Health, a global leader in brain and memory health research, and Cera – Europe’s largest digital‑first home healthcare provider – have announced a new collaboration designed to expand access to Alzheimer’s and neurodegenerative clinical trials and support more people to take part earlier in their health journey.
The collaboration brings together Re:Cognition Health’s specialist brain health clinics and clinical trial expertise with Cera’s 2.5 million monthly home care visits, creating new pathways for individuals who may benefit from advanced assessment and research opportunities to be identified and supported.
By linking care in the home with specialist research centres, this collaboration aims to ensure that more people can be offered the opportunity to take part in clinical trials, helping them access the latest advances in diagnosis and treatment whilst contributing to the development of future treatments.
Re:Cognition Health has played a pivotal role in the development of pioneering Alzheimer’s treatments, including lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla), with its clinics delivering international clinical trials that helped bring these therapies into clinical practice.
These medicines mark a significant paradigm shift in Alzheimer’s care, introducing disease‑modifying approaches and redefining what is possible in early intervention and treatment.
Older adults, particularly those aged 75 and over, carry a disproportionate burden of chronic disease yet remain under‑represented in clinical research. NIHR data shows that only about 15% of clinical trial participants are aged 75 or older, despite this group having high levels of multimorbidity and health needs.
This under‑representation has been highlighted by research leaders, including Professor Sir Chris Whitty and the NIHR, as a major concern because it slows the development of new treatments and means many studies do not reflect the real‑world population affected by conditions like dementia.
Additionally, recruitment into dementia trials in the UK is low compared with other disease areas, with only a small fraction of eligible people registering for studies.
Through this collaboration with Cera, Re:Cognition Health will be able to reach individuals who may not yet have accessed specialist memory services, enabling earlier referral, assessment and potential participation in clinical trials – and, where appropriate, access to new‑generation therapies at the earliest possible stage of disease.
Cera’s home healthcare model, powered by technology‑enabled data capture and daily patient contact, offers a unique window into cognitive health in familiar environments. With patient consent, Cera will refer potential participants to Re:Cognition Health clinics for clinical trials they may be a match for.
Together, Re:Cognition Health and Cera will support earlier, more equitable participation in Alzheimer’s research by leveraging Cera’s unique scale and insight.
Cera’s carers and nurses deliver technology‑enabled home healthcare visits – counting one every second on average. Through these, Cera captures real‑time, data‑driven insights into daily cognitive health, enabling the early identification of individuals who may benefit from specialist memory assessment.
This collaboration ensures that:
• Earlier identification and referral, enabling people to access specialist memory assessment and intervention at the most meaningful point in their health journey
• Equitable access to clinical trials, with participation determined solely by clinical suitability – not geography, mobility or care setting, so no one is excluded from potentially life‑changing research opportunities
• No financial barriers to participation, with studies free to join, expenses reimbursed and access to world‑leading healthcare and regular health monitoring throughout the trial
• Expert clinical oversight at every stage, with specialist neurologists and psychiatrists guiding assessment, participation and follow‑up, ensuring both safety and continuity of care
By combining home healthcare with specialist clinical expertise, this partnership empowers individuals to engage in research at the earliest opportunity, maximising the potential benefits of novel therapies while contributing to the development of the next generation of Alzheimer’s treatments.
Dr Ben Maruthappu MBE, CEO 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.”
Dr Emer MacSweeney, CEO 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.”
This collaboration aligns with national priorities to improve inclusion in research and reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that advances in Alzheimer’s treatment are developed with, and for, the people most affected.
