New Study Reveals Racial Disparity in Alzheimer's Trial Eligibility

A new study by ATRI's Doris P Molina-Henry, PhD titled "Racial and ethnic differences in plasma biomarker eligibility for a preclinical Alzheimer's disease trial" has now been published in the Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

The study investigated why certain racial and ethnic groups are less likely to be included in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. The study team explored this question in individuals screened to the AHEAD Study, a study testing an amyloid-lowering drug on asymptomatic individuals with biomarker evidence of Alzheimer’s disease.

Molina-Henry et al, found that people who identified as Black or Hispanic were less likely to meet the biomarker eligibility requirements for these trials, even though they are at higher risk of getting Alzheimer's or other dementia.

This difference seems to be associated with different plasma amyloid levels (a protein believed to be involved in Alzheimer's) across groups as measured by a blood test. People from these minority groups tended to have lower levels of amyloid.

However, when the researchers looked at brain scans, all individuals who were plasma eligible were equally as likely to be eligible by brain scan regardless of racial and ethnic groups. This finding supports that AD plasma tests perform accurately and consistently across groups.

Overall, the findings suggest that there may be other factors besides amyloid that contribute to dementia, and these factors may affect certain racial and ethnic groups differently. More research is needed to understand why this is the case.

The study also highlights the importance of improving access to Alzheimer's disease screening for all communities. This would allow more people to participate in clinical trials and help researchers develop better treatments for dementia. By educating oneself about the disease and supporting those affected by it, we can create a more informed and compassionate society that is better equipped to help those affected by Alzheimer's disease. Those interested can consult their primary healthcare providers, reach out to ATRI, or search for ongoing trials in their area.