Elderly people being excluded from medical research in UK, charities warn

Elderly people in the UK are being excluded from medical research due to arbitrary age cut-offs, according to leading charities and research institutes. This exclusion could stall the development of life-saving treatments. Concerns about the potential frailty of older participants and the belief that age may reduce the effect of the drug or device being studied have led some clinical studies to restrict participation for people over 75. However, this practice is seen as problematic, as it deprives older individuals of the potential benefits of new treatments and limits the diversity and representativeness of the research. Experts warn that this exclusion of the elderly from medical research could have significant consequences, as it may hinder the development of treatments that could be particularly beneficial for older individuals. They call for a more inclusive approach to ensure that the needs of the elderly population are adequately addressed in medical research.