How are treatments for devastating conditions like Alzheimer’s disease developed? One step at a time. Over a year ago, medications were approved in the US to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s – a major step in treating the most common form of dementia. Today, treatments to stop the development of amyloid plaques are in the works.
For individuals with early Alzheimer’s Disease, like Pierre Lambert, a retired math professor from l’Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the new research offers tremendous hope. Lambert’s son was instrumental in making sure that he was referred to a centre that could offer clinical trials, and Lambert has taken part in a clinical trial for Alzheimer’s disease at The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital).
“I am very aware that innovation in health care is essential,” Lambert explains, having also previously worked as a consultant for management systems in the health network. “I know that really wonderful things can come from it.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada the number of people living with the disease is projected to nearly triple to 14 million by 2060, so any breakthrough in treatment will impact a tremendous number of lives.
Clearing out the brain clutter
“We know that in Alzheimer's disease, there are plaques of soluble amyloids that accumulate in the brain and are not cleared out quickly enough by the body. The most recently approved medication sends an antibody into the brain, which removes much of this excess buildup of amyloid,” explains Dr. Simon Ducharme, a neuropsychiatrist and clinician-scientist at The Neuro.
While the new treatments are an important first step, these drugs don’t turn back the clock or repair the damage. “We know that the anti-amyloid medications work. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that individuals with Alzheimer’s improve after treatment; they just progress less quickly,” specifies Dr. Ducharme. “We need to develop another, complementary approach.”
In the past decade, The Neuro has been actively working to bring novel dementia treatments to patients in Quebec. A new trial underway at the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) at The Neuro is aiming to take the treatment options one step further.
Stopping the damage before it starts
“The new treatment we are studying is trying to prevent the amyloid from being produced and building up -- instead of waiting for the accumulation, the toxicity and the damage to settle in,” explains Dr. Ducharme.
The potential medication being tested at the CRU is in a Phase 1 study; that means that at this stage researchers are looking to confirm that the drug is reaching the right biological target and that it is safe. The drug used has the advantage of being very long acting, requiring only one dose per year. Preliminary results have shown that it is very well tolerated.
Researchers are looking for individuals whose symptoms started before age 65 and who have been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s Disease to take part.
For Lambert, taking the time to participate in a clinical trial is worth it. “I feel really privileged to be able to participate in a research project, not only because it could help me, but also because I can contribute to helping other people. And I am very grateful for all the support that is offered to me,” he explains.
And each new study is a chance to move closer to a cure for the disease. “There has been clear progress in treatment. Some of the drugs that I tested seven to eight years ago are being approved,” explains Dr. Ducharme. “Now the goal is to find other successful targets for medication and to eventually combine the treatments for better outcomes, like they do with chemotherapy.”
For more information on ongoing studies, contact the Clinical Research Unit at The Neuro: (514) 398-5500 or info-cru.neuro [at] mcgill.ca.
