Informed Consent, Therapeutic Misconception, and Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's Disease

People with Alzheimer’s disease are vulnerable to therapeutic misconception, particularly, the conflation of routine clinical care and scientific research. This misconception can compromise the informed consent process by causing prospective participants to underappreciate the level of risk involved in trial participation. The authors advocate for a more comprehensive informed consent process that accounts for the uniqueness of Alzheimer’s disease, creates a more productive and clear relationship between researchers and participants, and minimizes the potential harms and burdens for participants.

Wilkins JM, Forester BP. Informed consent, therapeutic misconception, and clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 2020;35(5):430-435.