RESIDENTS are being called upon in an altogether different way with the news that two major Alzheimer’s drug trials will take place in the city.

Volunteers are being sought to take part in the trials in the hope that a cure will be found for this cruel debilitating condition.

Though Oxford is known for having an above average population of under 40s, the number of dementia sufferers in rural areas is expected to increase by 25 per cent in the next five years.

This has been seen as the inevitable consequence of rising life expectancy, particularly in more affluent areas like Oxfordshire, where the number of people aged over 90 is expected to rise from 4,600 in 2008 to 16,900 by 2033.

So imagine helping scientists develop a cure for dementia, one that would allow so many more people to lead mentally active lives, even if their bodies have slowed.

This is Oxford’s chance to play a major role in what we all hope is the next major breakthrough in medicine.