William Petrie, MD Participating in Alzheimer's Research Study

Nashville area volunteers needed to participate in an important research study for Alzheimer's disease.

Nashville, TN (PRWEB) June 18, 2005 -- William Petrie, MD is one of approximately 64 research sites in the United States and Canada participating in a new research study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of an investigational medication for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimers disease (AD). Potential study volunteers should be between the ages of 50 and 90, diagnosed with probable AD, and experiencing memory loss and related AD symptoms for at least six months. Participation involves six visits to a local physicians office over a period of up to 27 weeks. Individuals who have been diagnosed with AD, their loved ones and caregivers, can contact 1-615-250-6714 (Jessica Hart) for more information.

About Alzheimers Disease (AD)
An estimated 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimers disease (AD). Ten percent of Americans over the age of 65 have AD, as do fifty percent of those over 85. The number of Americans who have been diagnosed with AD has doubled since 1980 and is expected to triple or quadruple by 2050. According to a Gallup poll, 1 in 3 Americans knows someone who has been diagnosed with AD, and one in 10 has a family member who is affected. AD is the third most expensive disease to treat, with approximately $100 billion per year spent on AD in the US.

Individuals who have been diagnosed with AD lose the ability to retain short-term memories, to speak or understand words, to remember familiar people and things, to be aware of the state of their health and hygiene, or to do otherwise simple everyday tasks. As the disease progresses, affected individuals rely more and more on their families, other loved ones, and caregivers.

The cause of AD is not known; it is not a normal aging process. AD is a disorder or dysfunction of the brain. Physical changes, called plaques" and tangles" can be seen in the brains of those who have been diagnosed with AD, and chemical changes occur as well.

The first and most common symptom of AD is forgetfulness and loss of memories. The individual may forget recent events or activities, even the names of familiar people and things. Other symptoms include the inability to do everyday tasks, such as brushing teeth, combing hair, or getting dressed. The individual diagnosed with AD may lose the ability to speak, understand, read, or write specific words. As the disease advances, the individual diagnosed with AD may lose control of their body and require constant care.

Treatment
There is no cure for AD; treatment aims at slowing the progression of the disease. There are currently four prescription medications approved and prescribed for Alzheimers Disease in the United States and Canada.
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The cholinesterase inhibitors Aricept®, Exelon®, and Reminyl® work to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical believed to be important for memory and thinking. As AD progresses, the brain produces less acetylcholine, so these medications become less effective. These medications are currently indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate cases of AD.

Namenda® is a different type of medication, called an NMDA-receptor antagonist, and is indicated for moderate to severe cases of AD. Namenda delays progression of some symptoms, allowing patients to maintain daily function. Other types of medications, targeting different areas of brain cell functioning, are being researched.

Caregivers play an important role in the treatment and well-being of individuals who have been diagnosed with AD. As the disease progresses, caregivers will become increasingly responsible for the basic daily functioning of individuals who have been diagnosed with AD.

In the early stages of AD, caregivers may be needed to help the individual who has been diagnosed with AD take care of basic household and life duties, such as financial matters. As the disease progresses, caregivers will be needed to help with tasks such as bathing, dressing, and eating.

Alzheimers Research
Researchers work to identify the causes and risk factors of AD, as well as identify new diagnostic and treatment options. New medications are identified and tested through clinical trials, involving possibly hundreds of volunteers who have been diagnosed with AD.

The first prescription medication specifically for AD was approved in the United States in 1993. As of 2005, four medications are available for prescription in the United States and Canada. Each of these medications was tested in clinical trials involving volunteers who have been diagnosed with AD.

Clinical research continues to identify potential new treatment options for AD and for many other conditions. Clinical research studies, or clinical trials, provide information to determine whether investigational medications are safe and effective. As a result of clinical trials, thousands of safe and effective treatments are available for the treatment of medical conditions, enabling people to live longer and with an improved quality of life. Survival rates for certain conditions (such as HIV, prostate cancer, and breast cancer) have increased because of recent research advances.

An Important Research Study for Alzheimers Disease
William Petrie, MD is seeking volunteers with Alzheimers disease (AD), and their caregivers, to participate in a clinical research study. This study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational medication for the treatment of mild to moderate AD. Volunteers should be between the ages of 50 and 90, diagnosed with probable AD, and experiencing memory loss and related AD symptoms for at least six months. Participation involves six visits to a local physicians office over a period of up to 27 weeks. Qualified participants will receive study-related medical care, including study-related examinations, assessments, lab tests, and electrocardiograms, as well as investigational study medication at no cost.

For more information, individuals with Alzheimers disease, their families and caregivers can call 1-615-250-6714 (Jessica Hart).

Contact:
Jessica Hart
1-615-250-6714
fax: 1-615-250-6782
hartcrc@yahoo.com

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