Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium

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Clinical Research Studies

Several institutions within the Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium (AAC) are recruiting volunteers for a variety of clinical research studies focusing on prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Healthy volunteers as well as those who have mild memory problems or early Alzheimer's are encouraged to explore opportunities to participate in clinical research studies at the following AAC institutions:

Banner Alzheimer's Institute

Studies of Normal Aging and the Risk of Alzheimer's
Disease in the Hispanic Community

Banner Alzheimer's Institute is conducting an NIH-sponsored study to characterize the progression of structural and functional brain changes and behavior in cognitively normal Hispanic volunteers using brain imaging studies (with MRI and PET scans) at Banner Alzheimer's Institute and cognitive testing at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale every two years.

Information from this study will help investigators understand brain changes associated with normal aging and help predict as well as monitor the potential onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Similar studies with non-Hispanic participants have been ongoing and this study will help investigators determine if these findings can be generalized to the Hispanic community.

Healthy Hispanic volunteers, ages 47-68, are invited to participate. All qualified volunteers will receive a blood test. Some participants will be invited back to have neurological, neuropsychological and brain imaging studies every two years. At this time, we are only able to enroll English-speaking volunteers. Alternative opportunities regarding research projects available for Spanish speakers can be obtained at (602) 239-2083.

Clinical Trial of an Investigational Treatment for Mild
to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease

Patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease are invited to participate in a GlaxoSmithKline-sponsored study, which uses brain imaging techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of a medication for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Patients who participate in this research study will receive either the study medication or a placebo (inactive drug) for one year.

Persons with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease may be eligible to participate in this study if they are 50 to 85 years of age, do not have diabetes, and have a family caregiver who can assist with their participation in the study. Other medical criteria will be evaluated by the physician. All study-related medical exams, laboratory tests, and study medication are provided to qualified participants at no cost. For more information about this study, please call (602) 258-2863.

Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

The Banner Alzheimer's Institute is looking for volunteers between the ages of 55 and 90 to participate in a study designed to help researchers learn how to stop the progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease in future generations. This nationwide study is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with major support from the private sector.

Selected participants and their study partners (a friend or relative who can accompany the volunteer to all clinic visits or can answer questions over the phone) will be assessed every six months for two to three years. The study is currently closed to enrollment, however an additional research arm of the study will open for enrollment later in the spring. For more information about this study, please call (602) 239-3704 or (602) 258-2863.

Arizona Alzheimer's Disease Center Clinical Core (ADCC) Natural History

Banner Alzheimer's Institute is now part of the ADC clinical core, a study designed to contribute to a better understanding of the transition between normal cognitive function, and mild cognitive impairment and dementia in people at differential risk for Alzheimer's disease. It will also promote the study of Latino and Native American research participants.

The ultimate aim is to assist in the discovery of treatment to slow the progression and prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Individuals who are cognitively normal, have mild cognitive impairment, or suffer from Alzheimer's disease or other dementias. For more information, please call Deb Swanson, clinical trials manager, at (602) 239-6920.

Huperzine A

Banner Alzheimer's Institute is now enrolling patients in this multi-center study aimed to determine whether Huperzine A, a natural cholinesterase inhibitor derived from a Chinese herb, is beneficial for enhancing cognition in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Two thirds of participants will be randomly assigned to receive Huperzine A throughout the study, and one third will receive a placebo for the first 16 weeks, followed by Huperzine A for eight weeks.

Individuals 55 years of age or older who are not currently taking cholinesterase inhibitors and have mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease may be eligible. For more information, please call Deb Swanson, clinical trials manager, at (602) 239-6920.

Effects of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) in Slowing the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

Banner Alzheimer's Institute is now inviting individuals 50 years of age or older diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease to participate in a multi-center study designed to determine whether consistent DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid) usage slows the progression of cognitive and functional decline over 18 months in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD), as indicated by change in certain cognitive scores. For more information, please call Deb Swanson, clinical trials manager, at (602) 239-6920.

Barrow Neurological Institute

MRI Research Study on Memory and Aging

The Neuropsychology/Neuroimaging Laboratory at the Barrow Neurological Institute is conducting research using "functional" MRI to study memory and aging. To participate in the study you must be an older adult who is right handed and physically able to undergo an MRI scan.

If you take part in the study, you will be asked to undergo an MRI scan of your brain, allow us to test your memory and thinking functions, and provide a sample of your blood and saliva. For more information, please call Gale Kittle, RN, MPH at (602) 406-4792.

Mayo Clinic Scottsdale

Effect of Marketed Drug Avandia on Alzheimer's Disease

Mayo Clinic is currently conducting a 12-month study to determine the effectiveness the marketed drug Rosiglitazone XR, also known as Avandia, will have in the cognitive improvement of those subjects with the diagnosis of AD.

Participants must be 50 to 85 years of age, have not been diagnosed with diabetes, and with a prior diagnosis of possible or probable Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, participants must have a caregiver in the home to administer medication and accompany them to Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale and Banner Health/Good Samaritan for periodic visits. For more information on this study, please call Marci Zomok, RNC at (480) 301-6966.

Clinical Trial for Normal Aging and Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Volunteers between the ages of 20 and 80 are needed to participate in a research study at Mayo Clinic. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, all participants will have a blood sample taken. Some will be asked to participate in neurological, psychiatric and brain imaging studies. Those who complete the neurological, psychiatric and brain imaging studies will receive a small honorarium. If interested, or for more information, please call Bruce Henslin at (480) 301-8549.

Sun Health Research Institute

For more information about any of the following Sun Health Research Institute trials, please contact Ian Miller at (623) 875-6516.

MIRAGE - Multi-Institutional Research in Alzheimer's Disease Genetic Epidemiology

This study is designed to evaluate the association between the genetic and non-genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. The study will determine whether genetic risk factors associated with vascular disease, such as atherosclerosis and stroke, also increase the risk of diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease.

Participation in this study requires a person with a confirmed diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease plus an unaffected, living brother or sister of that person over the age of 50 who is willing to participate.

All participants will be asked to provide information on their medical history as well as family history. They will also have a blood sample taken and undergo an MRI scan of the brain, the results of which will be sent to their primary care physician. This will complete participation in the study. Local and out-of-town participants will be accepted into the study. For more information about any of the Sun Health trials, please contact Ian Miller at (623) 875-6516.

ELAN NTB - Neuropsychological Test Battery

This research study will examine the properties of the Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB) in subjects with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The NTB consists of a number of questionnaires from which someone from the study site will ask you questions and you will answer them as well as you can. Elan hopes to use the information to more accurately find out if a person is starting to suffer from memory loss or impairment. Elan also hopes to show the usefulness of the NTB in comparison to other questionnaires already used in Alzheimer's disease.

NTB is currently recruiting subjects who are between the ages of 50 and 85, and are willing to participate. There are 6 visits within 18 months in this study. For more information about any of the Sun Health trials, please contact Ian Miller at (623) 875-6516.

GlaxoSmithKline Avandia 670

You have mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease. Researchers want to find out if an investigational drug called rosiglitazone maleate extended release (Rosiglitazone XR) can help.

Rosiglitazone XR is an investigational formulation of the drug Rosiglitazone. An "investigational formulation" is a formulation that is being tested and is not approved for sale in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Rosiglitazone XR is designed to deliver the drug over an extended period of time so people have to take fewer pills. The FDA has approved Rosiglitazone to treat the symptoms of type 2 diabetes in addition to changes in the diet and exercise.

All participants in this study will be taking acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEL) to treat their Alzheimer's disease. The FDA has approved various AChELs (such as tacrine, donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine) to treat the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

It is planned that about 1,392 people with Alzheimer's disease who are between 50 and 90 years old will be in this study. In addition to taking AChELs, 2 out of 3 participants will get Rosiglitazone XR and 1 out of 3 will get a placebo (inactive substance). There are 10 visits within 58 weeks in this study.

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) - Double-Blind Omega 3 Fatty Acid

This study looks at the nutrient found in algae, fish, and human breast milk, or as it is more commonly called, fish oil. The goal of this study is to determine the effects of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Previous studies suggest that DHA is the key part of fish oil that protects the brain.

The DHA study is an 18-month randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial. The subjects will be evenly randomized into either the DHA group or the placebo group (inactive substance). There are 8 visits within the 18-month period which include an MRI and an optional lumbar puncture. To be eligible for this study you must be a willing participant over the age of 50, have been diagnosed with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease, have a study partner who can accompany you to all clinic visits, and are not currently a resident in a long-term care facility. For more information about any of the Sun Health trials, please contact Ian Miller at (623) 875-6516..

Brain and Body Donation Program at Sun Health

Sun Health Research Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study of aging and the diseases of aging. Our goal is to discover new treatments and lifestyle methods that will lengthen life and improve the quality of life for all older persons. One of the most important ways to learn about aging and the disorders of aging is to study brain and body tissue from affected people that pass away. Of equal importance is to learn how well older individuals perform functions of daily living during life, and how this performance is affected by the presence of disorders of aging. To reach these goals, the institute maintains an active research program called the Brain and Body Donation Program.

Some general features of the program are:

There is no cost to participants.
Participants are required to consent to periodic clinical assessments. The assessments are typically conducted at one to three visits per year, and do not involve painful procedures or experimental treatments unless the participants specifically consent to them at the time.
Participants may quit the program at any time, may limit the types of organs they donate to research, may restrict what kind of research is done, and may limit the amount of medical information that can be released about them.
For participants who donate their entire body for research, the program provides cremation of the remains at no extra charge if the participant wishes.
Diagnostic and other information about the participant can be provided, after death, to family members and others specifically requested by the participant if the participant chooses.
Participants are not asked to take any experimental drug or treatments as part of this program, as it is not the program's purpose to test experimental treatments.

For more information about any of the Sun Health trials, please contact Ian Miller at (623) 875-6516.

University of Arizona

Geoffrey Ahern, MD, PhD, Margie Baldwin, RN, Spanish speaking only: 520-626-4296