September 30, 1996
Older adults with and without memory loss needed for Alzheimer’s studies
The University of Washington Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center has an ongoing need for volunteers with probable early Alzheimer’s disease to participate in research. Volunteers must be otherwise healthy and living at home (or in an assisted living facility), able to come to Seattle for appointments, and accompanied by a responsible caregiver.
The center will also provide a no-cost diagnostic evaluation for prospective participants whose memory loss is undiagnosed. Older adults without memory problems are also needed to serve as a control group, for comparison purposes.
For information, call research coordinator Beth Hutchings at (206) 764-2069 or 1-800-317-5382. Current studies include:
Medication Trials. Study participants receive free medications that may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease or improve memory and thinking. Some participants may receive a placebo (an inactive substance) for a portion of the trial.
Insulin-Glucose Studies. The body’s use of blood sugar can affect the brain and cause memory problems, in particular in Alzheimer’s patients. Results may help researchers design new treatments.
Stress Hormone Studies. Older people show an increased hormone response to stress, which may harm the hippocampus, a part of the brain crucial for memory. Researchers hope to determine whether an excess of a human stress hormone may play a role in progressive memory loss.
