Alzheimer's Clinical Trials: Understanding the Different Types

Clinical trials are crucial for advancing Alzheimer's management, providing valuable insights into new methods for diagnosing and treating the disease and its symptoms. While the ultimate objective is to prevent or discover a cure for Alzheimer's disease, numerous ongoing trials are primarily aimed at aiding individuals facing cognitive decline. The primary focus is to prevent, detect, or decelerate the progression of the disease. In cases where this is not feasible, researchers strive to enhance the quality of life for individuals in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's.

Prevention Trials

Prevention trials are specifically designed to evaluate the efficacy of a particular therapy or medication in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. These clinical trials are conducted with participants who have not developed AD or experienced memory issues. The primary objective of these trials is to investigate and identify strategies that can effectively prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s in high-risk populations.

Examples of prevention trials include ATRI’s landmark A4 and AHEAD studies.

Diagnostic Trials

Diagnostic trials play a crucial role in assessing the effectiveness of novel tests and techniques for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. These trials primarily focus on the development and enhancement of diagnostic tools and biomarkers. The ultimate goal is to enable accurate diagnosis of the disease even before the onset of symptoms.

One of the biggest breakthroughs in diagnostic research is the ability to use blood-based biomarkers to detect Alzheimer’s disease without needing to do a PET scan.

Treatment Trials

Treatment trials are a crucial part of ATRI's clinical research, sometimes aimed at slowing or stopping the progression of the disease itself, or focused on treating the primary complications of AD such as cognitive impairments. These trials examine the effects of an investigational medication, intervention, or behavior on cognitive decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Cognitive assessments meticulously track and compare participants with and without the intervention to assess the effectiveness of the medication on cognitive decline.

The MIND study investigated if nicotine dosing could improve memory in participants already experiencing mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Quality of Life Trials

Given that there is currently no known cure for Alzheimer's disease, quality of life trials are conducted to evaluate treatments that strive to mitigate the impact of AD symptoms. These trials are designed to improve not only the physical health but also the overall happiness and well-being of individuals living with the disease. Through the exploration of diverse interventions and approaches, researchers strive to enrich the daily lives of patients, offering them increased comfort, fulfillment, and improved psychological well-being in the face of the challenges presented by Alzheimer's disease.

The recently launched LiBBY study aims to test a treatment that reduces agitation in those with late-stage dementia.

How Can You Participate?

Clinical trials are an essential tool for advancing medicine and improving the health and well-being of people across the globe. Understanding the different types of clinical trials is critical when making decisions about participation in research studies as a participant, healthcare professional, or researcher. Those interested can consult their primary healthcare providers, reach out to ATRI, or search for ongoing trials in their area.