News Release: Emory Healthcare, Research, School of Medicine

Mar. 30,  2009

Emory University Seeks Volunteers with Alzheimer's Disease for Study

Emory University is participating in ICARA (Investigational Clinical Amyloid Research in Alzheimer's) – an international clinical study to learn if an investigational drug can help control the progression of Alzheimer's disease. In total, approximately 2,050 patients will be enrolled at research sites in North America.

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of memory and cognitive function. It destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect everyday life. Alzheimer's gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, affecting approximately 18 million people worldwide. Alzheimer's-related medical complications are among the most common causes of death in the elderly population. 

"Our goal is to explore if this investigational drug can help control the progression of Alzheimer's. Most current therapies for Alzheimer's treat the symptoms associated with it and not the disease itself," says Allan Levey, MD, principal investigator for the study and chairman of the Department of Neurology at Emory University School of Medicine. "It is important for patients and families affected by Alzheimer's to consider participating in clinical studies. Clinical studies that test new treatments are the best chance we have for fighting this disease.”

Participants for the ICARA study must be between 50 and 88 years of age, have a diagnosis of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease and have a caregiver who is willing to be involved in the study. A medical team including a nurse or study coordinator and a physician will monitor participants throughout the study.

More information about the study is available by calling Deborah Stout at 404-728-6590.

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The Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University is an academic health science and service center focused on missions of teaching, research, health care and public service. Its components include schools of medicine, nursing, and public health; Yerkes National Primate Research Center; the Emory Winship Cancer Institute; and Emory Healthcare, the largest, most comprehensive health system in Georgia. The Woodruff Health Sciences Center has a $2.3 billion budget, 17,000 employees, 2,300 full-time and 1,900 affiliated faculty, 4,300 students and trainees, and a $4.9 billion economic impact on metro Atlanta.

Learn more about Emory’s health sciences:
Blog: http://emoryhealthblog.com
Twitter: @emoryhealthsci
Web: http://emoryhealthsciences.org

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