Learn about the different types of Alzheimer’s research studies, what’s involved in participating, and how you can get involved. Suzanne Newman joins Dr. Cherian Verghese, Principal Researcher at the forefront of Alzheimer’s disease at Keystone Clinical Studies LLC in the Philadelphia area.
It’s hard to ask for help, and we face denial, not wanting to bother family, and pride issues. When we face cancer or heart disease, we think our bodies are failing. When it comes to something in our minds, we think we are failing, as something personal, but our mind sits within our brain, and these are illnesses, just like cancer or COVID. In the old days, there was a sense of learned helplessness — I can’t do anything about it, so why bother? — but that’s not the case any more.
Everyone knows the symptoms of a stroke or heart attack or cancer, and now COVID, but not many know the symptoms of Alzheimers, particularly early symptoms. We’re not talking about everyday things, but perhaps you notice that your loved one is not as sharp as they used to be, and they have a subjective feeling that it takes more effort, as if the senior moments are getting worse.
If they have trouble following the plot of a TV show, or don’t realize when they’ve already seen a movie, look for a clinical trial near you. Clinicaltrials.gov has a list, usually focused in the bigger cities. Participating in a research study provides an opportunity for better treatment than treatments that are currently available: access to the finest medical care, with professionals who know more about the disease than a regular doctor, the cream of the crop in doctors.
There’s no magic bullet in treatment — think of the various treatments available for diabetes. Different illnesses require different approaches. Alzheimer’s is complicated, and researchers at Keystone are studying medicines that treat different stages of the disease. There are studies for prevention, studies for early stages of mild cognitive impairment, and the Athira study for those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s dementia. There are medicines for neural regeneration, for amyloid removal, for tau tangle removal
If you know of someone with Alzheimer’s, there’s probably a trial available for them. For those interested in a trial, visit Lift-AD Clinical Trial to learn more. You can learn more about Keystone by calling 610-277-8073 or visiting Keystone Clinical Studies LLC.
