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Alzheimer’s Disease:
Research, Clinical Trials, and Hope
By Dr. Joseph Quinn
As a physician treating people with Alzheimer’s disease and as a teaching professor involved in research at Oregon Health and Science University, I’m often asked about the latest research findings and any possible breakthroughs in discovering a cure for this progressive and devastating disease.
I wish I could say we’ve discovered a cure for Alzheimer’s that will be available at your neighborhood pharmacy tomorrow, but I can say we are optimistic about some of the drugs that have reached later phases in clinical trials. I’d like to share with you some of the most significant studies and findings.
First, let’s take a look at the three phases clinical drug studies go through:
The Three Phases of Clinical Drug Studies
- Phase One: Researchers study to make sure the compound is safe enough to go to the next phase of study.
- Phase Two: Researchers begin to study suggestions that the compound is effective, but the primary goal here is still safety.
- Phase Three: If the compound passes the preliminary studies, researchers conduct much bigger studies to determine whether or not there is solid evidence that the compound is effective.
Now let’s look at some of the studies that have passed through the preliminary phases and justified larger studies.
The Amyloid Hypothesis of Alzheimer’s Disease
Hard, insoluble plaques appear in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease, and these plaques are composed of the accumulation of protein fragments called amyloid. Research has focused on understanding the molecular events that lead to this accumulation. We don’t yet know if the plaques cause Alzheimer’s disease, or if the disease causes the plaques. Currently, there are a number of treatments in development that are directed at preventing the formation of amyloid and/or accelerating the removal of amyloid.
Antibodies that are Anti-Alzheimer’s?
One set of drugs that are under study right now interferes with the molecular machinery for making amyloid. Your body makes antibodies against viruses and bacteria and many other threats. Antibodies directed toward amyloid have shown the ability to actually remove the amyloid from the brain in animal studies and have now reached phase three clinical trials.
At OHSU, we’re investigating whether Intravenous Immune Globulin (IGIV), which contains naturally occurring human anti-amyloid antibodies, may potentially slow the rate of progression of the disease. IGIV is currently used to treat primary immunodeficiency disorders, but is not yet approved for treating Alzheimer’s.
Reasons to be Hopeful
Those of us who study and treat patients with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are optimistic about these anti-amyloid studies, as well as some of the other strategies that have reached phase three in clinical trials. There have been signs of slowing the rate of progression in certain patients treated with some of these therapies. It’s not a done deal. If it were, these drugs would be under FDA review right now. But some of the phase two studies have been really encouraging. We’re working toward the day when we find a cure and a prevention for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Dr. Joseph Quinn specializes in general neurology and dementia and is an associate professor of Neurology at OHSU. He received his medical degree from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, in 1990. He completed his residency training at OHSU, and his fellowship in Geriatric Neurology at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Dr. Quinn received his board certification in Neurology in 1997.
Dr. Quinn specializes in general neurology and dementia. The assistant professor of Neurology received his medical degree from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, in 1990. He completed his residency training at OHSU, and his fellowship in Geriatric Neurology at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Dr. Quinn received his board certification in Neurology in 1997.
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