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Clinical Trials 101

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.

Mild Behavioral Impairment Can Help Predict Alzheimer’s, According to Study

In the late 1890s, a railroad worker in Frankfurt Germany noticed that his wife, Auguste Deter, was behaving oddly. Gradually her anxiety and mood changes gave way to memory loss, delusions and other signs of dementia. Committed to an institution in the care of Dr. Alois Alzheimer, Deter became the first person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. A new study establishes that even her subtle, early shifts in behavior —  mild behavioral impairment — were scientifically linked to what was to come.

New Genetic Variant Discovered to Protect Against Risk of Alzheimer’s Gene ApoE4

The Alzheimer’s gene, known as ApoE4, is one of the the largest genetic risk factors for later onset Alzheimer’s disease. Carrying one copy of the gene triples the risk of developing Alzheimer’s, while two copies increase one’s risks more than 12 times.  Scientist now think they may have found a new gene known as KL-VS that may counter the elevated risk associated with ApoE4.

Independent committees help to keep trial participants safe

Who is watching out for your safety in a clinical trial?  Learn how independent data safety monitoring boards are used to evaluate the safety of the trial and make sure participants are protected.

How was a woman destined to get Alzheimer’s protected by her genes?

A woman in Colombia was destined to develop Alzheimer’s disease in her 40’s because of a rare family genetic mutation. But she didn’t show symptoms until her 70’s. Scientists are now investigating what protected her from the memory stealing disease. Could her genes hold the key to new treatments?

For Alzheimer’s Patient, Hope Renewed Following Biogen Announcement

When biotechnology company Biogen announced the cancellation of the trial for their Alzheimer’s drug aducanumab, nearly 3,500 trial participants were left in limbo. Now, following the company’s announcement that they will be reviving the trial, hope is blooming once again, particularly for those who felt the drug had a positive effect on their lives.

Drug curbs delusions, eases anger in Alzheimer's patients, researchers find

If regulators approve it, the drug could become the first new medicine for Alzheimer's patients in nearly two decades.
 

Reassessment of Alzheimer’s Drug Raises Hope—and Concerns

Pharmaceutical giant Biogen now admits that it made a mistake back in March when it stopped a pair of trials of an experimental Alzheimer’s drug. A deep analysis of the data, released Thursday, suggests the drug, called aducanumab, did make a difference for patients who took the highest dose for the longest period of time—but only in one of two studies.