National Effort Against Alzheimer’s Ramps Up

The National Alzheimer’s Project Act legislation passed in 2011 is galvanizing U.S. efforts to combat Alzheimer’s and related dementias and to support patients and their caregivers. Read more about upcoming activities planned by NIH leadership and staff to further that goal. More»

New Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry recruiting 250,000 volunteers

Family members and friends who have watched a loved one suffer and succumb to Alzheimer’s disease often seek ways to take action to prevent or cure the disease. Now, there’s a new way for this largely untapped group to join the “fight to end Alzheimer’s.” More»

"Connecting to Combat Alzheimer's" project wins HHSinnovates awards

On March 19, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) received the coveted HHSinnovates Program’s People’s Choice Award for the Connecting to Combat Alzheimer’s initiative. More»

• Analysis finds gene variants associated with Alzheimer’s amyloid deposition
• Minority Recruitment: Translating General Principles Into Specific Strategies (from LINKS: Minority Research & Training, Winter 2013)

Upcoming events:

• Alzheimer’s Disease-Related Dementias: Research Challenges and Opportunities workshop, May 1-2
• Join NIA to honor Dr. Robert Butler with May 8 memorial lecture: Neuroimaging and Biomarkers: How Early Can We Diagnose Alzheimer's?

• The ADEAR Center is tweeting! Follow us on Twitter @Alzheimers_NIH!
• Looking for funding opportunities? Current NIA funding opportunities and announcements
• New online tip sheets for Alzheimer’s caregivers:
  • Going to the Hospital (PDF, 502K)
  • Home Safety (PDF, 356K)
  • Traveling Overnight (PDF, 425K)
• More free resources from the ADEAR Center

Major Studies:

• Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative—seeking Vietnam War veterans for a new study of brain aging, as well as older adults with a significant memory concern but no signs of cognitive impairment for a study to define biological markers and structural brain changes of Alzheimer’s (multiple sites)
• Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network (DIAN)—seeking adult children age 18 and older with a biological parent who has a known genetic mutation for Alzheimer’s (multiple sites)
• Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial: Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension (SPRINT-MIND)—recruiting volunteers age 50 or older with high blood pressure—systolic (upper) number of at least 130—who have a history of heart disease or chronic kidney disease or are at risk for heart disease, but with no history of diabetes or stroke (multiple sites)

Drug Trials:

• PF-05212377 for People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
• BAN2401 for Early Alzheimer’s Disease
• Bisnorcymserine in Healthy Adult Volunteers
• Effects of EVP-0962 on Amyloid Levels in Cerebrospinal Fluid
• ELND005 for Agitation and Aggression in Alzheimer’s Disease
• Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Trial: An Opportunity to Prevent Dementia (DIAN TU)

Brain Imaging and Biomarker Studies:

• Florbetapir (18F) PET Imaging Effectiveness in Management of Patients with Cognitive Decline
• Arterial Spin Labeling MRI for Cognitive Decline
• Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias
• Effects of Simvastatin on Biomarkers

Non-Alzheimer's Dementias:

• Living with Frontotemporal Dementia

Other Trials:

• Aerobic Exercise in Early Alzheimer’s Disease
• Effects of Fruitflow-II and Resveratrol on Memory, Fitness, and Cerebral Blood Flow
• Memory Consolidation in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• PhytoSERMs for Menopause Symptoms and Age-Associated Memory Decline