The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $2-million grant to support research into the role of infections in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The preclinical study will be conducted at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). “If we can prove the theory that infection is one of the factors…
About Alzheimer’s Disease
Walking into a room and forgetting why you went into the room is normal. Walking into a room and forgetting what room you are in is not normal. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and affects one in ten people over the age of 65. Unfortunately, the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not fully understood however leading scientific experts in the field attribute the illness to the irreversible and progressive generalized degeneration of the brain. Alzheimer’s disease goes well beyond the forgetfulness that may accompany aging, and typically first signs include difficulty remembering current information or performing new tasks. Ongoing hallmark symptoms include impaired memory function, difficulty performing everyday tasks, and neurobehavioral abnormalities. Currently, there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and multi-disciplinary treatment focuses on symptom management and limiting progression.
Conditions
Alzheimer’s News
Vaccine Seen to Lessen Signs of Neurodegeneration in Phase 2 Trial
AADvac1, an investigational vaccine targeting abnormal tau protein, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, was found to be safe and effectively reduced the signs of neurodegeneration in patients with mild disease, according to data from the ADAMANT Phase 2 clinical trial. In a subgroup of participants with a confirmed Alzheimer’s biomarker profile, AADvac1 significantly slowed clinical…
Trial to Test Donanemab in People With Alzheimer’s Signs, Not Symptoms
A new Phase 3 trial, a collaboration between Eli Lilly and the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, is planned to evaluate the potential of donanemab in preventing the cognitive and functional decline related to Alzheimer’s disease. Called TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 3, the study will enroll people with “evidence” of Alzheimer’s but no clinical symptoms. Those with and without the ApoE4 gene variant, a known genetic…
New Mutations in Six Genes Found to Increase Alzheimer’s Risk
Researchers have identified new mutations in six genes that may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Their study involved the genetic analysis of 19 families in Utah with higher-than-normal occurrence of the disease. The scientists found relevant mutations in the genes PELI3, FCHO1, SNAP91, COX6A2, MUC16, and PIDD1. The analysis also identified rare mutations…
New Study Will Test Cannabinoid-based Therapy for Agitation
SciSparc is set to start a Phase 2a study evaluating the safety and efficacy of SCI-110, its investigational cannabinoid-based therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and agitation. “We are very excited to begin our trial,” Adi Zuloff-Shani, PhD, chief technologies officer of SciSparc, said in a press release, noting that current off-label therapies for Alzheimer’s agitation have…
Alzamend Seeks to to Test AL001 as Dementia Therapy
Alzamend Neuro has requested approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin clinical trials to test AL001, its investigational lithium-based ionic cocrystal oral therapy for dementia related to Alzheimer’s disease. The request was made in the form of an investigational new drug (IND) application that, if approved, will allow the start of…
FDA, in Reversal, Limits Aduhelm’s Use to People With Mild Disease
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has pulled back the controversial and sweeping approval recently given to Aduhelm (aducanumab), updating the treatment’s label at its manufacturer’s request so that it is prescribed to early-stage Alzheimer’s patients only rather than all with this disease. Whereas the FDA’s original June approval indicated simply that Aduhelm could be used “for…
Phase 3 Trial of Lecanemab Seeks People At Risk of Alzheimer’s
The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is recruiting participants for a Phase 3 trial that will test the efficacy and safety of lecanemab (BAN2401) in those who are at risk of developing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The global AHEAD (NCT04468659) study seeks to enroll 1,165 participants in North America to test lecanemab…
Alzheon Fully Enrolls Phase 2 Biomarkers Study of Oral ALZ-801
Patient enrollment is now complete for Alzheon’s Phase 2 study evaluating the effects of ALZ-801 on disease-related biomarkers in people with early Alzheimer’s. All of the participants — double the original target number — have a specific genetic variant associated with an increased risk of disease progression. Alzheon said it expects the first interim data…
Lilly’s Donanemab Granted FDA Breakthrough Therapy Status
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has named Eli Lilly’s donanemab a breakthrough therapy for treating Alzheimer’s disease, the company announced in a press release. Lilly said it intends to submit a biologics license application or BLA — which would allow it to market donanemab in the U.S. — to the FDA later this year. The…
With New Trial Data, Lecanemab Wins FDA Breakthrough Status
Based on new evidence from an ongoing Phase 2b clinical trial, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough therapy designation to lecanemab, also called BAN2401, an investigational antibody for treating early Alzheimer’s disease. The therapy, being developed jointly by Eisai and Biogen, is designed to slow Alzheimer’s progression. The FDA’s decision was based on…
Gantenerumab Lowers Key Protein Levels in Early-onset Disease Trial
The investigational therapy gantenerumab significantly lowered levels of established biomarkers in a rare, inherited form of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, despite failing to slow cognitive decline or memory loss in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, according to data from a Phase 2/3 clinical trial. Based on these results, enrolled patients may choose to continue, or start, on…