Implementing a Memory Clinic Model to Facilitate Recruitment into Early Phase Clinical Trials for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

To address the challenges of recruiting patients into early-phase trials of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease, a memory clinic was implemented within the clinical trials unit of a biopharmaceutical company.

Members of the research team co-sponsored community outreach events with local organizations, thereby increasing awareness about the services of the clinic. Secondly, physician outreach was expanded to include those who were not previously amenable to clinical trial referrals. Finally, Memory Clinic patients were given free clinical evaluations, and the results were discussed with the patients and their caregivers. If the patients were interested in hearing more about possible research opportunities, they were referred to the early-phase unit for a screening visit.

New referrals for research participation significantly increased from 12 patients diagnosed with MCI or Alzheimer’s disease per protocol in 2016 and 3 enrolled, to 98 patients diagnosed and 16 enrolled. In addition, the physician referral network and collaborations with national nonprofit organizations also increased.

Park L, Kouhanim C, Lee S, et al. Implementing a memory clinic model to facilitate recruitment into early phase clinical trials for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease 2019; 6(2):135-138.