Neurodegenerative Research

At Lilly, we want to continue developing and making medicines to meet the needs of people with neurodegenerative diseases. A neurodegenerative disease causes the nerves in your brain and spine to stop working the right way over time.
Through clinical research we are looking to find potential medicines that may help treat or slow down the development of many neurodegenerative conditions. These include:

Alzheimer’s disease
Frontotemporal dementia and other types of dementia and memory loss
Parkinson’s disease
Gaucher disease

By taking part in a clinical research study, you can help to make a difference. Click here to view neurodegenerative disease trials.

About Our Research

Global Impact

We want to make life better for the millions of people around the world living with neurodegenerative diseases and all those who care for them.

We carry out clinical research in more than 55 countries to make new medicines for people living with these conditions.

We want to make life better for the millions of people around the world living with neurological disorders and all those who care for them.

We carry out clinical research in more than 55 countries to make new medicines for people living with these conditions.

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Lilly’s Commitment to Research

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Advancing Science Together

Making new medicines is only possible with the help of people in our community. This involves clinical trial participants, doctors, researchers, care partners and advocates. Together, we work to improve neurodegenerative disease care for all. 

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Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Areas

Neurodegenerative conditions can involve problems with memory, thinking, movement and coordination. They are usually progressive, which means they get worse over time, and there are no cures currently available.
With clinical research, we can get more information about how these diseases start and get worse. This helps us find ways to potentially prevent, better manage, and treat the conditions.
Click on the conditions below to learn more about neurodegenerative diseases that we are carrying out clinical research studies for. You can also view neurodegenerative disease clinical trials or to learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and research in this area, visit our page about Alzheimer’s Disease.

Frontotemporal Dementia

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is also known as frontotemporal degeneration. It is caused by nerve cell loss in the front and sides of the brain (the frontal and temporal lobes). FTD can cause changes in behavior, personality and can make speaking and understanding others difficult. Some people with FTD may also develop movement disorders. Symptoms usually start gradually and get worse over time.
FTD is the second most common type of dementia in people under the age of 65, after Alzheimer’s. Treatments are available to help with symptoms, but there is no cure available yet.
Some clinical research studies for FTD are using gene therapy. These studies are looking at a specific type of FTD which involves a change in a gene called the GRN gene.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease is also known as Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s disorder. It is a brain disorder that causes movement issues, including shaking or ‘tremor’, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.
Symptoms usually start gradually and get worse over time. It happens when nerve cells in the brain that control movement are damaged and produce less dopamine. Dopamine is a brain chemical that controls movement and allows you to feel pleasure and motivation.
Treatments are available to help with symptoms, but there is no cure available yet.
Some clinical research studies for Parkinson’s disease are using gene therapy. You can learn more about gene therapy research for Parkinson’s disease on the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy website.

Gaucher Disease

Gaucher disease is a rare genetic condition that is passed down from parents to children. People with Gaucher disease are missing an enzyme that normally breaks down lipids. Lipids are fatty substances found in the body. Lipids start to build up in organs including the spleen and liver. This can cause many different symptoms. The spleen and liver can get very large and stop working normally. The disease can also cause anemia and affect the lungs, eyes, and bones. Some types of this disease can also affect the brain.
Treatments are available to help with symptoms, but there is no cure available yet. Some clinical research studies for Gaucher disease are using gene therapy. These studies are looking at:

type 1 Gaucher disease which is seen in children and adults and can be mild or severe.
type 2 Gaucher disease which is a severe form of the disease and affects babies.

Find a Trial

A Study of Mevidalen (LY3154207) in Participants With Alzheimer's Disease

Enrolling

Conditions: Alzheimer Disease

Drugs: Mevidalen

Age

50 - 80 years

Phase

A Study of Donanemab (LY3002813) in Participants With Early Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease (TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 5)

Enrolling

Conditions: Alzheimer's disease

Drugs: donanemab

Age

60 - 85 years

Phase

III

A First-In-Human Study of LY3954068 in Participants With Early Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease

Enrolling

Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease

Drugs: LY3954068, Flortaucipir F18

Age

50 - 85 years

Phase

Learning Center

Caregiver Partnerships

Gretchen and Michael both have Parkinson's disease and act as each other's care partner. In this video, they talk about their experiences with clinical trials and caregiving. Watch the video and learn more about their partnership. Download video transcript.

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Resources and Support for Care Partners

No two days are the same for a person living with a neurodegenerative condition. The same goes for their care partners.
You can find some resources aimed at making life a little easier in caring for caregivers.

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Genetic Medicine for “Untreatable” Conditions

In this podcast host Andrew Adams and guests Ruth Gimeno and Michelle Lynn Hall discuss advancements and obstacles in genetic medicine research. They also talk about the hope this type of medicine may bring for people with ‘untreatable’ conditions like Parkinson’s Disease. Listen to the podcast and learn about genetic medicine from the experts.

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Prevail Therapeutics and Gene Therapy Research

Prevail Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, aim to advance potential one-time gene therapies for people living with Parkinson’s, frontotemporal dementia and Gaucher disease (type 1 & 2). Learn more about this research on the Prevail Therapeutics website.

Explore Research Areas

Two people joyfully embracing while standing on a porch. Both have grey hair, one person is wearing a purple top and the other person is wearing a grey shirt.

Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. At Lilly, we are actively looking for potential new medicines to help people living with Alzheimer’s.

Learn more about Alzheimer's Research or view Alzheimer's Clinical Trials

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. At Lilly, we are actively looking for potential new medicines to help people living with Alzheimer’s.

Learn more about Alzheimer's Research or view Alzheimer's Clinical Trials

Neurodegenerative Research

About Our Research

Global Impact

Lilly’s Commitment to Research

Advancing Science Together

Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Areas

Lilly Trial Connect

Find a Trial

Lilly Trial Alerts

Learning Center

Test Your Knowledge

Caregiver Partnerships

Resources and Support for Care Partners

Genetic Medicine for “Untreatable” Conditions

Prevail Therapeutics and Gene Therapy Research

Explore Research Areas

Alzheimer's Disease

Find a Lilly Trial