FAIRWAY, Kan. — A landmark study is getting underway that will see if a drug can prevent or delay Alzheimer’s Disease in people who have no outward symptoms. Kansas City area residents can be part of the research.
Joann Bell of Olathe is taking memory tests. It’s the first step to see if she qualifies for the study at K.U. Medical Center. Alzheimer’s took her mother’s memory and her life.
“I am here not only for my mother but for my kids and my grandchildren in hopes we find a cure to this horrible thing,” Bell said.
Volunteers between the ages of 65 and 85 are needed. Those who have normal memory and thinking abilities will then undergo PET scans to see if they have amyloid plaques in the brain. Dr. Jeffrey Burns says those plaques are a risk factor for Alzheimer’s — not a definite sign you’ll get the disease. They appear 10-to-15 years before the onset of memory problems.
“So the idea behind this study is pretty simple. If we can identify people with amyloid in the brain and then use an anti-amyloid drug to pull amyloid out of the brain, will that prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?” said the K.U. Med researcher.
The drug is solanezumab. Some study participants will get it while others will get a placebo. The intravenous drip will be given once a month for three years.
Earlier studies found the drug didn’t help people with advanced Alzheimer’s, but it seemed to slow memory decline in people with milder disease. This study will take the next step to see if it can prevent memory and thinking problems.
“This study will be a huge step forward for the field and in advancing the fight against Alzheimer’s Disease,” said Dr. Burns.
Bell says it won’t bother her at all to find out whether she has amyloid plaques in the brain.
“Feel very happy, privileged to even be considered in this screening process because it really is a crisis,” she said.
She’s happy to be part of the push to defeat Alzheimer’s.
Those interested in enrolling in the study should call 913-588-0555.
