Research, especially using animal models of the disease, provides tremendous hope for patients. The effects of estrogen hormones, anti-inflammatory agents, vitamin E, and other common medications are under intense study at this time.

Experimental treatments are currently being tested in multicenter clinical drug trials. One of the most promising is neurotransmitter research, or replacing the cells that produce neurotransmitters in the brain that have been destroyed by the disease. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry messages between brain cells. Participation in clinical trials can be highly rewarding because of the frequent contact with and support from health care providers. However, they usually require that a portion of the patients receive placebo rather than active medication. A placebo - often a sugar pill – is an inactive substance that looks like the test drug. Most state Alzheimer’s centers, federally funded Alzheimer’s centers and many physicians specializing in Alzheimer’s disease participate in these trials.

Please contact the AAN Education and Research Foundation to contribute to the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. Only through continued research can we hope for more treatments and a cure. Call (651)695-2712.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

American Academy of Neurology
1080 Montreal Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55116-2325
(651) 695-1940
Fax: (651) 695-2791
(800) 879-1960

Alzheimer’s Association
919 North Michigan Ave. – Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60611-1676
(800) 272-3900
(312) 335-8700
Fax: (312) 335-1110

Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center
PO Box 8250
Silver Spring, MD 20907-8250
(800) 438-4380
Fax: (301) 495-3334
E-mail: adar@alzheimers.org

The Alzheimer’s Foundation
8177 South Harvard
M/C - 114
Tulsa, OK 74137
(918) 481-6031

"The Brain Matters" campaign is a collaborative public education effort between the American Academy of Neurology, the AAN Education & Research Foundation and the Corporate Roundtable.