Clinical study looks to improve cognition in Alzheimer’s patients
SUN CITY, Ariz. (Sept. 1, 2009) Banner Sun Health Research Institute and Banner Alzheimer’s Institute are conducting a study where immune globulin administered intravenously (IGIV) will be evaluated alongside standard-of-care medications for Alzheimer’s disease.
For decades, IGIV has been a successful FDA approved medication used in treating various autoimmune diseases. Studies have shown that immunotherapy targeting amyloid beta peptide may be beneficial in treating Alzheimer’s disease.
Previous research demonstrated that IGIV displays significant cognitive improvement while reducing amyloid levels in the brain. Physicians and researchers believe that because IGIV contains anti-amyloid antibodies, it may prove successful in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s and its related symptoms.
“The science and rationale for using IGIV as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease is extremely sound. Based on research, we are testing whether IGIV will have a protective effect from damage occurring from beta amyloid in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients,” said Marwan Sabbagh, MD, neurologist and chief medical/scientific officer at Banner Sun Health Research Institute. “We are extremely optimistic that IGIV may provide cognitive benefit for those suffering from Alzheimer’s.”
This large Phase Ill clinical trial expands on earlier testing and is part of the final phase in studying IGIV as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease pathology is an abundance of beta-amyloid deposits in the brain. While it is not yet known if these plaques cause Alzheimer’s or are a byproduct of the disease, scientists are interested in finding ways to reduce the toxic effects of beta amyloid on the brain. Antibodies against beta amyloid may do so by binding to toxic forms of the deposits, thereby neutralizing them and/or promoting their elimination.
According to new estimates from the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive, debilitating and deadly neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by plaques within the brain of amyloid-beta protein, which is toxic to brain cells. The disease affects areas of the brain involved in memory, cognition, judgment, language and behavior.
This clinical study is sponsored by Baxter and partially funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS).
Eligibility Criteria:
- Men and women, ages 50 to 89 years
- Diagnosis of probable Alzheimer’s disease: dementia of mild to moderate severity (MMSE between 16 and 26) at the time of screening
- Available caregiver who is willing and able to participate in the study for its full duration
For more information about the study, please contact:
Banner Sun Health Research Institute (623) 875-6500
About Banner Sun Health Research Institute
For 23 years, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, part of nonprofit Banner Health, has been a leader nationally and internationally in the effort to find answers to disorders of aging including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and arthritis. The institute, together with its Arizona Alzheimer’s Consortium partners, has been designated by the National Institutes of Health as one of just 29 Alzheimer’s Disease Centers in the nation. The institute’s Cleo Roberts Center for Clinical Research takes laboratory discoveries to clinical trials that foster hope for new treatments. Banner Health is Arizona’s leading health care provider and second largest private employer. For more information, visit www.shri.org and www.bannerhealth.com.
Media Contact:
Brian Browne
Banner Sun Health Research Institute
(623) 875-6536
e-mail
