Drug breakthrough which could slow the progression of Alzheimer's may occur within the next five years, scientists say The injection is currently undergoing trials involving 2,100 patients Scientists say they are 'full of hope' that progression can be delayed if treated early enough A monthly injection jab to slow the progression of Alzheimer's could be developed within five years, scientists claim A monthly jab to slow down the progression of Alzheimer's could be developed within the next five years, scientists claim. It would be given to those who have had brain scans which show the disease is at an early stage of development. This could even be a decade before they even start to suffer any major symptoms. The injection is currently undergoing trials, involving 2,100 patients with mild Alzheimer's disease, which are expected to continue until December 2016. Next week, the Prime Minister will host a dementia summit in London with leaders from the other G8 countries including the US, China and France, to draw up plans to tackle the illness. They are expected to set aside extra funding to pay for the development of new treatments and pledge to improve sufferers" care. Latest figures show there are 44million people worldwide with dementia - including 800,000 in Britain - and that is expected to double by 2050. Yet there are currently only a handful of treatments available and these only work for a limited time in those at the earliest stages of the disease. This latest drug called solanezumab, made by US pharmaceutical Eli Lilly, is thought to work by breaking down plaques (clumps of protein) that form in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. But researchers believe it is only effective when given to patients in the earliest stages of the disease. Previous trials of patients with moderate Alzheimer's disease showed very little benefit. Dr Eric Karran, director of research at Alzheimer's Research, said he was "full of hope" that if given much earlier it could delay the progression. He said the injections would be given to people ten or even 20 years before they develop symptoms such as confusion, memory loss and anxiety. The treatment would be given to those who have had brain scans which show the disease is at an early stage of development (file picture) In future, patients at high risk of Alzheimer's, such as those with a family history, will be offered brain scans to check for signs of plaque formation which occur years before symptoms set in. If these growths are found, patients would be offered the monthly injections at a memory clinic or their local hospital to prevent the disease progressing. Dr Karran said: "I am full of hope that we are going to have a breakthrough in five years. We need to get these therapies in early for them to have an effect. If we can just get efficacy with one drug we will understand so much more. If solanezumab was shown to work in mild Alzheimer's disease, which is what is being investigated, then the pathway would be to take that earlier and earlier and earlier. The Alzheimer¿s Society said: 'Dementia is fast becoming the biggest health and social care challenge of this generation' (file picture) Dr Doug Brown, director of research and development at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "If we can delay the onset by five years we could probably cut the numbers with dementia in half - and recent research evidence suggests this could be a possibility." Prof Nick Fox, from the Institute of Neurology, at University College London, said that preventing disease before symptoms show offers the best "window of opportunity" to halt the impact of disease. Meanwhile, charities are concerned by the lack of money currently being invested in dementia research - in the UK it is an eighth of that devoted to cancer. Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "Dementia is fast becoming the biggest health and social care challenge of this generation. We must tackle dementia now, for those currently living with the condition across the world and for those millions who will develop dementia in the future. Lack of funding means dementia research is falling behind other conditions.