Drug trials are under way at the Royal Adelaide Hospital aimed at potentially slowing or even stopping the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Source: News Limited
DRUG trials are under way at the Royal Adelaide Hospital aimed at potentially slowing or even stopping the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
The trials also are aimed at preventing dementia from Alzheimer’s disease developing in the first place.
While there is no cure for this progressive form of dementia or way to reverse it, the new generation of drugs hold out hope of arresting its progression so people can maintain their quality of life if it is detected early enough.
The drugs focus on breaking up plaque in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
The RAH Memory Trials Centre is now recruiting people who are experiencing forgetfulness to see if they qualify for the trial.
While some forgetfulness is a natural part of ageing, it can also be an early warning sign of looming dementia.
Participants first will undergo telephone screening to determine if a pre-screening assessment, including a series of memory tests, would be beneficial to assess whether the forgetfulness is a natural part of ageing, or is caused by other factors. Some of these, such as forgetfulness caused by medication, can be reversed.
These carefully constructed memory tests take approximately an hour and include a variety of simple tests set in a welcoming, friendly setting.
They are designed to give a window into the brain to see how well it is functioning.
If the participant is assessed as being in the pre-stages of Alzheimer’s disease, or in the early stages of the condition, they will be invited to join the full clinical trial after taking home the information to read and discuss with family members.
This runs for two years and includes taking MRIs, PET scans, blood tests and other physical tests while taking the drug aimed at preventing the accumulation of the plaque as well as breaking it up and removing it.
Clinical Practice consultant Kathy Robinson.
Source: News Corp Australia
While some participants will receive the drug aimed at slowing or halting Alzheimer’s, others will receive a placebo so scientific comparisons can be made to see if the drug is working.
Clinical Practice consultant at the Memory Trials Centre Kathy Robinson said plaque in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s may be accumulating 10 to 15 years prior to memory problems.
“Memory and cognitive testing is a way we can see what is going on in the brain and determining its ability to function,” she said.
“Some people don’t like the idea of a memory test because they feel it is confronting but we do our best to put people at ease — some people skip out of here afterwards because they feel relieved at having good news.
“We want to see if we can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s, or if we can slow it or halt its progression for people with Alzheimer’s disease. However early diagnosis is very important.”
Dementia is now the second biggest cause of death in Australia.
The Memory Trials Centre is on 8222 2798.
New hope to slow, stop or prevent Alzheimer’s
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