Several years ago, a clinical trial showed that vitamin E slowed the progress of some consequences of Alzheimer's disease by about seven months. Other studies are considering whether antioxidants -- such as vitamin E and C -- can slow Alzheimer's. One clinical trial is examining whether vitamin E and/or selenium supplements can prevent Alzheimer's or stop mental decline. More studies on other antioxidants are ongoing or being planned.
Studies have linked keeping the brain active with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. In a study of healthy older people and people with possible or probable Alzheimer's, scientists found that the healthy people had taken part in more mentally stimulating activities in their early and middle adulthood years than those who later developed Alzheimer's. The healthy group also spent more hours in these types of activities.
A growing body of research suggests that the more formal education a person has, the better his or her memory and learning ability will be, even if the brain turns out to have the type of plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Some studies have suggested that estrogen used by women to treat the symptoms of
Menopause also protects the brain. Experts also wondered whether using estrogen could reduce the risk of Alzheimer's or slow the disease.
However,
Clinical trials to test estrogen have not shown that it can slow the progression of Alzheimer's in women who have already been diagnosed with the disease. And one study found that women over the age of 65 who used estrogen with a progestin were at greater risk for
Dementia, including Alzheimer's. The study also showed that older women who used only estrogen could increase their risk of developing dementia.
Scientists believe that more research is needed to find out if estrogen may play some role in Alzheimer's. They would like to know whether starting estrogen therapy around the time of menopause, rather than at age 65 or older, will protect memory or prevent Alzheimer's disease, and an NIH clinical trial is testing this possibility.
Early studies suggested that extracts from the leaves of the ginkgo biloba tree might be of some help in treating symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. There is no evidence yet that gingko biloba will cure or prevent Alzheimer's. Scientists are now trying to find out in a clinical trial whether ginkgo biloba can delay mental decline or prevent Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia in older people.
Will a vaccine someday prevent Alzheimer's disease? Early vaccine studies in mice successfully reduced beta-amyloid plaques in the brain and improved the way mice performed on memory tests. But when the studies were conducted in humans, they had to be stopped because some participants experienced side effects. However, scientists are continuing to study variations of the vaccine approach in the hope that they will reduce beta-amyloid in the brain while minimizing harmful side effects.
Scientists have come a long way in their understanding of Alzheimer's disease. Findings from years of research have begun to clarify differences among age-related memory changes, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease. Scientists also have made great progress in defining the changes that take place in the Alzheimer's disease brain. This allows them to pinpoint possible targets for treatment.
Treatments and Research - Participating in Research People with Alzheimer's disease and those with mild cognitive impairment, or even healthy people who want to help scientists test new treatments may be able to take part in clinical trials. Clinical trials are studies done with people to find out if a new drug or treatment is both safe and effective.
To make it easier for people to find out about studies, the National Institute on Aging, or NIA, maintains the Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials Database. It lists clinical studies for Alzheimer's disease that are sponsored by the federal government and private companies.
Two major studies currently underway are the AD Genetics Study and the Neuroimaging Study.
The AD Genetics Study is collecting
Genetic material from individuals with more than two living brothers or sisters who have late-onset Alzheimer's disease. This valuable resource will allow researchers to speed up the discovery of genes that increase the risk for late-onset Alzheimer's.
Brain scans showing a normal brain and a brain affected by Alzheimer's disease.The AD Neuroimaging Initiative uses imaging techniques like
Magnetic resonance imaging, or
MRI, and positron emission tomography, or PET scans, to measure the structure and function of the brain. One day, these measurements may be able to identify people who are at risk of getting Alzheimer's before they develop symptoms. Imaging techniques may also help doctors see how well patients are responding to treatment.
