Trials in your area
The U.S. government hosts a comprehensive online
database of medical research on all diseases at
ClinicalTrials.gov. The search box below makes it easy for
you to search ClinicalTrials.gov for studies related to
Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias, or mild cognitive
impairment (MCI). You can find studies in any U.S. state or
Canadian province.
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There are many other ways to search ClinicalTrials.gov. For example, you can search on the name of a specific hospital or research center, a zip code, or a city. To explore more search strategies, visit the ClinicalTrials.gov Focused Search page.
Your Alzheimer’s Association local office may know about additional research opportunities in your area. You can also call our 24/7 Helpline anytime day or night for help finding a study in your area at 1.800.272.3900.
In the following sections, this page also lists examples of ClinicalTrials.gov studies recruiting participants at more than one U.S. site. Many of these studies are under way nationwide.
For more information about participating in clinical research, please see our Clinical Studies section.
Phase III interventional trials
Phase III clinical studies provide the chief evidence for safety and effectiveness that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers in deciding whether to approve a drug. The following Alzheimer drugs in Phase III clinical studies are “interventional drugs” designed to slow or stop the progression of the disease.
Other types of interventional studies evaluate investigational medications that focus on treating symptoms or preventing the disease. Interventional studies are different from observational studies, in which researchers can only observe what happens to a group or groups of people undergoing a particular treatment and then record the outcomes.
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Bapineuzumab is designed to bind to and remove the beta-amyloid peptide that accumulates in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s. Bapineuzumab is given as a series of injections, delivering antibodies to beta-amyloid. This approach is called “passive immunization,” since the body is receiving the antibodies via the drug, rather than generating the antibodies itself. This drug is being tested in individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. Approximately 4,000 subjects at more than 350 sites worldwide (include 200 sites in the United States and Canada) are expected to participate.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
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Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the most abundant omega-3 fatty acid in the brain, is being tested to see if it can slow cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s disease. DHA has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. Some research also suggests it may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or other types of cognitive decline. The study involves 400 individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
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Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a product derived from human donor blood, contains natural anti-amyloid antibodies that may reduce beta-amyloid levels in the brain and improve cognition in people with Alzheimer’s. It is FDA-approved for treatment of a variety of autoimmune and immune deficiency diseases, but not yet approved for Alzheimer’s. This study needs volunteers with mild or moderate Alzheimer’s.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
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Lecozotan is a 5-HT1A (5-hydroxytryptamine-1A) antagonist. Receptors for 5-HT1A are distributed throughout the brain, with higher concentrations in the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the area of the brain associated with learning and memory and one of the first areas to be damaged by Alzheimer’s. Some studies suggest that Lecozotan helps increase release of neurotransmitters in the hippocampus, facilitating cognitive processing. The study includes 250 volunteers with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
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LY-450139 is a gamma-secretase inhibitor. Gamma-secretase is an enzyme that plays a key role in producing the beta-amyloid that goes on to accumulate in the hallmark plaques of Alzheimer’s. Inhibiting gamma-secretase may decrease the production of beta-amyloid and beta-amyloid plaques. Recruitment of 1,500 volunteers with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s is under way.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
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Rosiglitazone is an insulin sensitizer. Abnormalities in how insulin is used in the brain may contribute to the symptoms and/or progression of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is characterized by decreased use of glucose in the brain. Insulin is necessary to make glucose available to fuel brain activity. Increasing the sensitivity of insulin may make more glucose available for use by the brain and improve brain function. This study involves more than 500 individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
Treatment trials currently recruiting at multiple U.S. sites
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Several Phase II and III studies sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline are testing an extended release formulation of the Type 2 diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia) as a treatment for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
- One Phase III study is testing rosiglitazone as a treatment for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease in people who are already taking donepezil (Aricept), one of the cholinesterase inhibitors currently approved for Alzheimer’s disease
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
- A second Phase III study is similar to the first study, only participants may be taking any of the cholinesterase inhibitors currently approved to treat Alzheimer’s
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
- A third Phase III study is testing rosiglitazone as “stand-alone” treatment in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s who have not taken any of the other currently approved Alzheimer drugs for at least the last 30 days
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
- A Phase II study is using brain imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) to evaluate the effect of rosiglitazone on brain glucose metabolism and cognitive function in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
 Alzheimer's and Type 2 Diabetes (2 pages)
FDA-Approved Treatments for Alzheimer's (3 pages)
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A Phase II study sponsored by Epix Pharmaceuticals is investigating the short-term safety and physical effects of 14 days of treatment with PRX-03140 in people with mild Alzheimer’s disease who are also taking a stable dose of donepezil (Aricept). PRX-03140 may work alone or in combination with a cholinesterase inhibitor such as donepezil to increase levels of acetylcholine, an essential brain messenger chemical that becomes deficient in Alzheimer’s disease.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
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A federally funded Phase II study is investigating whether raloxifene, a drug related to estrogen, may improve cognitive function in women with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
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Phase I and Phase II studies are exploring the consequences of discontinuing the “atypical antipsychotic” risperidone (Risperdal) in individuals with Alzheimer’s taking this drug to treat behavioral symptoms of the disease. Sponsored at several study sites nationwide by the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
Behavioral and Psychiatric Symptoms of Alzheimer's (4 pages)
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A Phase II study sponsored by Merck is investigating whether the company’s investigational drug MK0249 is more effective than a placebo for symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease over 28 days of treatment. According to the ClinicalTrials.gov listing, more information about the nature of MK0249 will be provided to study participants.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
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A Phase I study sponsored by Merck is testing V950, an experimental Alzheimer’s disease “vaccine.” This is an early-stage study testing whether the vaccine is acceptably safe and well-tolerated. It will also evaluate how strongly the immune system responds to the vaccine.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
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A program of enhanced counseling and support has been shown to be effective in reducing stress and depression and in delaying nursing home placement when used for spouse caregivers. This federally funded Phase III study will investigate whether the technique is also effective for adult children caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s disease or a similar disorder.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
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Partners in Dementia Care is a study of care coordination for U.S. veterans with dementia jointly sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The goal is to improve dementia care and quality of life in VA medical centers through integration of health, community and support services.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
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Phase II study sponsored by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma America exploring whether twice-daily tablets of different doses of AC-3933 benefit mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. AC-3933 promotes the release of acetylcholine, a nerve cell communication chemical that decreases in the Alzheimer brain, and also stimulates nerve cell networks that use glutamic acid, another communication chemical.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), mild memory loss and understanding normal age-related changes
Prevention trials recruiting at multiple U.S. sites
Other trials related to Alzheimer’s disease
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MIRAGE (Multi-Institutional Research in Alzheimer’s Genetic Epidemiology): A federally funded study to explore the relationship between APOE status; genes involved in cardiovascular health; other indicators of cardiovascular health, such as blood pressure; and results of brain MRI in African-Americans, Japanese Americans, and Caucasians.
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov
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Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Study
Trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov.
NIA fact sheet (2 pages)
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The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) is a large federal study seeking to recruit 800 older adults at 50 sites across the U.S. and Canada: about 200 with no impairment, 400 with mild cognitive impairment and 200 with Alzheimer’s disease. Additional information is available in both English and Spanish from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), including fact sheets on procedures involved in the study and a list of study sites. Get trial details by clicking the link below or call 1.800.438.4380.
Trial details at alzheimers.org
General research information
Other research related Web sites
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SearchClinicalTrials.org
This site provides a “metasearch” function that searches several clinical trial databases at once to find studies recruiting in a geographic region specified by the user. Hosted by the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing medical research.
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Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials Database
This searchable database, jointly hosted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute on Aging (NIA), provides background information, eligibility criteria, site listings and other details on Alzheimer research studies sponsored by the federal government, private organizations and pharmaceutical companies.
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Veritas Medicine
Veritas Medicine is a free service that helps people identify clinical trials that may be appropriate for them to join. An anonymous search template that asks questions about the prospective participant finds only the names of trials for which the individual may be eligible. The service will also provide the direct contact information and further details on trials.
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CenterWatch
This information resource is maintained by research centers, equipment and service vendors, drug companies, and other interested parties in the clinical trials industry. The site provides a searchable international listing of open trials, a link to studies sponsored by NIH, a clinical trials notification service, and other resources for patients and professionals.
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