Alzheimer’s Drug Trials
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease with no known cure. Researchers have made great strides in recent years in understanding more about the disease. Researchers explore genetic factors in Alzheimer’s disease. Other areas of study focus on enhancing the screening and diagnosing techniques. Other areas of research include improving the quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s disease and investigating how a healthy diet and lifestyle may reduce one’s risk of developing it in later life.
How do drug trials differ for other Alzheimer’s research?
Drug trials differ from other Alzheimer’s research in that their principal focus is on how drugs affect Alzheimer’s.
Types of Drug Trials
There are two main types of drug treatment trials for Alzheimer’s. The first type seeks to reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms and the second type aims to slow or stop the progression of the disease.
Drug treatments that try to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s will test new drugs or different forms of existing drugs. They may study how changing the dosage of an existing drug might reduce or delay symptoms. They may research how changes in the timing of a drug’s delivery might reduce or delay symptoms. They may also study how a drug’s pairing with another medication might reduce or delay symptoms.
Drug treatments that try to slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s will test new drugs. Some of these drugs will treat Alzheimer’s in a completely different or experimental way.
Why participate in a Drug Trial?
Participating in a drug trial may allow you to:
- Access treatments not yet readily available
- Try new medications for free
- Talk with a Specialist
- Contribute to Alzheimer’s research
Things to Consider About Participating
Questions you may want to ask yourself prior to participating in a drug trial for Alzheimer’s include:
- What is the purpose of the drug trial?
- Will I be able to take my regular medication?
- What sorts of procedures will I need to undergo and what do they involve?
- What are the risks of taking this drug? What are the benefits?
- How much time will it take?
- Will I be informed of the results? Will my doctor?
- What happens if my memory gets worse during the study?
- What happens if my overall health gets worse during the study?
- If I benefit from the drug on trial, can I continue taking it when the trial ends?
- Can I withdraw from the drug trial?
- Will my expenses be reimbursed?
