Promising Trials in Field of Alzheimer’s Research

I had the pleasure of attending the Alzheimer’s Association Research Forum. naïve as it may seem to use the word pleasure in the same sentence as Alzheimer’s disease, there was a real sense of hope throughout the audience as the panel of research doctors discussed their updates, findings, and breakthroughs.

Alzheimer’s disease has had a lot of media coverage recently, with staggering statistics: Over 5 Million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s, but only 45% of people diagnosed are told they have the disease; the 2015 estimated cost of caring for people with ALZ or other Dementias is $226 billion; Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in Massachusetts, and currently, we have no proven cure, treatment or prevention. This is where the story will change.

The forum I attended was a pleasure because the overreaching atmosphere was one of hope. I listened to 10 different research doctors, giants in their field of study, discuss many aspects of the disease, with preventative care at the forefront. There was a lot of discussion about recent studies showing that lowering amyloid protein buildup in the brain can slow memory loss and degradation! This brings us to a fascinating preventative clinical trial called the A4 Study.

The A4 Study

The A4 Study (Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer’s) is testing whether an anti-amyloid antibody can slow memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s disease. Amyloid is a protein typically produced in the brain that can build up in older people, forming amyloid plaque deposits. Scientists believe this buildup of deposits may play a key role in the eventual development of Alzheimer’s disease-related memory loss. The overall goal of the A4 study is to test whether decreasing amyloid with antibody investigational treatment can help slow the memory loss associated with amyloid buildup in some people. Source: A4study.org

Clinical Trials – are essential to getting drugs on the market.

There are many trials, 225 across the USA (hosted at over 700 different sites) and over 30 in Massachusetts. The Alzheimer’s Association has a feature on its website, www.alz.org, called TrialMatch, where you fill out a questionnaire, and they pair you up with a study or trial that fits your situation. The A4 study is looking for participants aged 65-85 who do not show any signs of memory loss. It is a nationwide study conducted locally through the Brigham and Women’s Hospital.