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Clinical Trials 101

New project launches to study Alzheimer’s disease prevention in people with Down syndrome

Approximately 75% of adults with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s disease by the age of 65. Researchers are now creating more studies to explore the link between the two and plan to bring the latest therapies into clinical trials for this patient population.

What are clinical trials and how do they work?

New drugs and medical devices are tested for safety and effectiveness in several phases of clinical trials. But how exactly does a clinical trial work? And what is the difference between Phase I and Phase II? This month we explore the inner workings of clinical trials and their role in testing new medical treatments. 

Study explores whether computerized brain training can prevent dementia

A new, NIH-funded, multi-site study is exploring whether computerized brain training can prevent dementia. Preventing Alzheimer’s with Cognitive Training (PACT) will examine whether a specific type of computerized training can reduce the risk of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease for adults over 65.  

First treatment in two decades approved for Alzheimer’s

The FDA approved the first new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease in almost two decades on June 7. Aducanumab is also the first approved drug to change the course of the disease by removing brain plaques, a signature of Alzheimer’s. But mixed results on its ability to slow the decline of memory and thinking skills caused some researchers to question the effectiveness of the novel treatment.

Vaccines, gene therapy and other novel approaches to future Alzheimer’s treatments

Alzheimer’s researchers are seeking new ways to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease. Could novel treatments such as vaccines and gene therapy hold the key to a new type of treatment? Researchers are delving into that question.

Participants in Alzheimer’s study regain memory and thinking skills after study ends

The groundbreaking Generation Program gathered the world’s largest group of people at genetic risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease in later life to study a new treatment. However, the study was stopped early when participants developed subtle memory and thinking problems. Learn what scientists found four months after the study when they evaluated participants to see if memory and thinking skills returned to pre-trial levels.

Coming soon - A simple blood test for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease

A promising new blood test to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease could soon be a reality. The test is highly accurate in detecting the disease and differentiating it from other causes of dementia. While not yet available for clinical use, the new test could be a game changer for diagnosing a disease that impacts the lives of millions of people around the globe.

The Future of Medicine: A New Era for Alzheimer’s

It is time to start anew. More than a century after neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer gave the first scientific talk describing the disease that bears his name today, we have no good treatments for this thief of minds, and we certainly have no cure. Today 40 million to 50 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. The drugs doctors have tried, aimed at a single type of lesion, have repeatedly and agonizingly fallen short. Now scientists are beginning to say it is high time for a fresh approach to the illness.

Two views on Alzheimer's biomarkers: Eyeing changes in vision or pupils

Findings in two separate NIA-funded papers focus on different ways to develop noninvasive, less expensive ways to detect very early-stage Alzheimer’s disease in cognitively healthy people. The studies suggest that changes in vision and pupil responses may be effective biomarkers for Alzheimer’s in those at greater risk for dementia.

Large-scale analysis links glucose metabolism proteins in the brain to Alzheimer’s disease biology

In the largest study to date of proteins related to Alzheimer’s disease, a team of researchers has identified disease-specific proteins and biological processes that could be developed into both new treatment targets and fluid biomarkers. The findings suggest that sets of proteins that regulate glucose metabolism, together with proteins related to a protective role of astrocytes and microglia — the brain’s support cells — are strongly associated with Alzheimer’s pathology and cognitive impairment.