An Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis is never easy- for you, or your loved ones. With no cure available, it can be daunting and scary. However, there are Clinical Trials and studies that can be effective in altering the entire course of the disease. Participants are often needed.

Clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease are basically research studies using people to determine whether treatments work and if they are safe. Without them, there wouldn’t ever be a treatment or cure.

There are usually four phases in a clinical trial: test a treatment, find the correct dosage and look for any side effects. After the initial three phases, if researchers find a treatment that is safe and that works, then the FDA approves it for clinical use and continues to monitor it.

There are two types of Alzheimer’s treatment trials. One is treatment aimed at reducing Alzheimer’s and dementia symptoms. This one involves new drugs and variations of current drugs that are used to weaken symptoms. For example, current drugs can be tested by altering the dosage, altering what time of day the dose is taken or combining the dose with other medications. The other type of treatment trial is similar, but it’s aimed at slowing or stopping the disease altogether with new drugs.

There are also clinical studies which are basically the same thing as clinical trials. However, studies cover any and all types of research surrounding the disease- not just on preventing and treating it. Besides clinical research there are also diagnostic studies, prevention trials, quality of life studies and other online studies. So, there are plenty of avenues to go down when looking to take part in a trial or study.

It’s important to note that clinical trials all happen on a volunteer basis. Willing participants take part in these trials and studies for a multitude of reasons, such as having a desire to improve not only their own medical care, but medical care for future generations. Others might have a personal connection to someone who has the disease, or they just have a particular interest in science.

If you or your loved one wants to take part in a trial, there are plenty of available resources. The Mayo Clinic has studies researching memory, healthy aging, dementia-related conditions and more relating to gerontology. You can learn about what it takes to become a volunteer on their website as well.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) supports over 250 Alzheimer’s and dementia trials. These cover early-stage and late-stage clinical drug development, as well as many more.

The Alzheimer’s Association also has a database tool called TrialMatch. It’s a clinical trials matching service that connects people with Alzheimer’s, caregivers and healthy volunteers to current studies.

You can also contact local assisted living facilities to guide you in the right direction. All of these resources (plus many more) could potentially lead you, or a loved one, to an eventual treatment or cure for the disease.

Sources:

Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research_progress/clinical-trials/what-are-clinical-trials

Mayo Clinic https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/alzheimers-disease-research-center/clinical-trials

National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/ongoing-AD-trials