Clinical Drug Trials
A clinical drug trial is a research study conducted to find out if a new drug or treatment strategy is safe and effective for use in human subjects. Some clinical trials study new drugs or procedures that are not currently available to the public. Other trials study existing drugs that are used in other medical conditions to help determine if they are also helpful in dementia.
Rapid advances in our knowledge about Alzheimer's have led to the development of many experimental drugs and treatments. However, before these new treatments can be adopted, they must be shown to work in patients. There are currently only five drugs that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in people with Alzheimer’s disease. While these drugs may be helpful in treating the symptoms of Alzheimer's, none of them attack the root cause of Alzheimer's. More research is needed in order for scientists to develop treatment strategies aimed at finding a cure or a way to prevent Alzheimer's altogether.
In most clinical trials, participants are randomly assigned to a study group. One group, the test group, receives the experimental drug. Other groups may receive a different drug or a placebo (an inactive substance that looks like the study drug). In most trials, no one – not even the study team – knows who is getting the experimental drug and who is getting the placebo. This procedure is called “masking” or “blinding” and is done to increase the accuracy of the trial by eliminating some of the possible biases. At the conclusion of the study, participants are told which group they were assigned. In many trials, people who were assigned to the placebo group may have an opportunity to receive the experimental drug if they choose.
While some people join a clinical trial in hopes that they may benefit personally from the experimental drug, many just want to help others in the future by contributing to medical research.
Participating in a clinical trial is a big step. Individuals and their families should carefully consider all of the possible benefits and risks before agreeing to participate. If participants change their minds at any time during the trial, they can drop out. For more information on clinical drug trails, please contact Joanne Lord at 734- 647-7760.
Clinical Trials at the MADRC
We are currently recruiting for the following Clinical Drug Trials:
