Alzheimer's Disease Center

 

UK ADCS Trials

STUDY OPPORTUNITIES:

	Overview

	UK ADC Affiliated Studies

	UK ADCS Trials

	UK Aging Studies

	Lexington Clinic Studies

	Neuroimaging Studies of Depression in Parkinson's Disease

	Research Participation Opportunities (pdf)

	UK ADC Affiliated Studies Flyer (pdf)

UK Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS)

These Research Opportunities are Sponsored by the Alzheimer Disease Cooperative Study Group, and are Currently Recruiting at the UK ADC and the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging http://adcs.ucsd.edu

OUR MISSION

The Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) was formed in 1991 as a cooperative agreement between the National Institute of Aging and the University of California

San Diego. The ADCS was developed in response to a perceived need to advance research in the development of drugs that might be useful for treating patients with Alzheimer's

disease (AD), particularly drugs that might not be developed by industry. As such, the mandate of the ADCS is to:

• develop trials for promising agents designed to ameliorate behavioral symptoms, improve cognition, slow the rate of decline, or delay the appearance of AD,

• develop instruments for use in clinical trials,

• expand the range of patients studied in AD trials,

• enhance the recruitment of minority groups into AD trials, and

• develop novel and innovative approaches to the design and analysis of AD clinical trials.

The ADCS operates under a condition for evaluation of compounds to benefit the general good of patients with AD. These conditions include the testing of agents which:

1) lack patent protection,

2) are under patent protection but are already marketed for other indications but where the agent may be useful for treating AD, and

3) are novel compounds developed by individuals, academic institutions, and drug discovery units.

The University of Kentucky (UK) is currently conducting research trials for the ADCS in the following areas:

• DHA (docosahexanoic acid), an omega-3 fatty acid found in natural fish oil, treatment for slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease: http://adcs.ucsd.edu/DHA_protocol.htm
  • Greg Jicha, M.D., Ph.D. http://www.mc.uky.edu/neurology/jicha.html serves as the principal investigator for UK
  DHA Newsletter (pdf)
  
  • Funding: NIA 2U01AG01004833311
  • UK IRB# 06-0823-F3R
  • 18-month trial requiring 6 visits to our facility
  • DHA is one of two main omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil. DHA is required for normal healthy brain development and is a required supplement in infant baby formulas for this reason. Laboratory and animal model research in AD has demonstrated consistent benefits of DHA in slowing the progression of AD
  • While a recent study in Europe failed to show the benefit of fish oil in preventing AD, this study used a crude preparation of fish oil that was not enriched in DHA. Secondary analysis of this study showed some benefit of fish oil in those in the milder stages of disease, suggesting that a refined preparation and use in a group of subjects earlier in the disease state may show benefit. Clearly this study is needed to answer these unresolved questions
  • Enrollment for participation in this trial is currently closed

• HBA: Home-based assessment of cognition in persons over the age of 75 years: http://adcs.ucsd.edu/PHBA_protocol.htm
  • Allison Caban-Holt, Ph.D. serves as the principal investigator for UK
  • Funding: NIA 2U01AG01004833311
  • UK IRB# Pending
  • This study is designed to evaluate the feasibility of assessing subtle memory and thinking decline using home-based assessment tools that may prove useful in future planned primary prevention trials in AD
  • Telecommunications and computer technologies are being developed to bring early diagnosis of memory and thinking changes into the home setting, allowing potential opportunities for earlier diagnosis and intervention
  • This trial is scheduled to open for enrollment in the spring/early summer of 2007
  • For more information or to enroll call Sarah Carr at (859) 257-1412 x 289

Upcoming Trials...

• Novel Anti-inflammatory, Anti-amyloid Strategy using RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end-product) Inhibitors to Treat Alzheimer’s Disease
  • The Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study group in conjunction with Pfizer Inc. will be testing a new medicine that may help slow or even stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
  • RAGE inhibition is also being studied for the treatment of vascular disease that may contribute to the risk for stroke, heart attack, and other circulatory problems.
  • The study is opening for enrollment for persons with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease age 50 and older, over a 1 1/2 year period.
  • For more information call Diana at (859) 257-1412 x234