Longevity & AgingWhy Clinical Trials Keep Failing Older Patients and How to Fix That
Older patients make up the majority of people treated for serious diseases, yet clinical trials have historically excluded or underrepresented them, leaving doctors with little evidence to guide treatment decisions. A new narrative review in The Lancet synthesizes a decade of recommendations and identifies which strategies have actually worked. Key areas include selecting more representative participants, choosing interventions appropriate for older, often frail individuals, and measuring outcomes that genuinely matter to this population — such as function, quality of life, and independence — rather than endpoints designed for younger adults. The authors highlight successful trial designs that are inclusive, real-world relevant, and complemented by observational data. While uptake of best practices has been slow, the review shows that high-quality, elder-inclusive trials are achievable and provides a practical roadmap for researchers and clinicians.
