A clinical trial is a research study performed in people that is aimed at evaluating a medical, surgical, or behavioral intervention. Most clinical trials test a new treatment to find out if it is safe and effective in people. There are many reasons people choose to join a clinical trial. Learn more about the benefits of participating in clinical research.
Looking for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias clinical trials? Visit our clinical trials finder.
Articles
What Are Clinical Trials and Studies?
Interested in clinical research? Learn about the difference between clinical studies and clinical trials, and the phases of clinical trials for FDA approval.
Why Participate in a Clinical Trial? What Else Should I Know?
Find out why people participate in clinical trials, what happens in a trial, and how you can find a trial to join.
Why Do Clinical Trials Need Older and Diverse Participants?
Learn why it's important for older and diverse adults to participate in research and why you should talk to the trial coordinator about obstacles and concerns.
Clinical Trials: Benefits, Risks, and Safety
Explore the benefits and risks of clinical trials, as well as ways participant safety is protected, including institutional review boards and informed consent.
Questions to Ask Before Participating in a Clinical Trial
Are you thinking about participating in a clinical trial? Explore these questions to ask when you meet the research team.
Participating in Alzheimer's Disease Research
Learn about volunteering for Alzheimer's disease research and why it matters.
Why Are Placebos Important?
In undertaking a clinical trial, researchers don’t want to leave anything to chance. The “gold standard” for testing interventions in people is the “randomized, placebo-controlled” clinical trial.
Registries and Matching Services
How can you help Alzheimer’s and other dementia/brain research? Join a registry or matching service. NIH and others match volunteers with clinical studies.
Recruiting Older Adults into Research (ROAR) Toolkit
Get help recruiting older adults and caregivers to research studies with this toolkit from the NIH, CDC, and ACL. Includes presentations and flyers.
