Dementia Research
Latest dementia and Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials:
ImmunoBrain Trial
The Immunobrain Trial investigates the relationship between the brain and our body’s immune system. The study tests whether a targeted antibody can enhance the immune system into repairing damage to the brain as a result of early Alzheimer’s disease, hopefully delaying the progression of the condition to keep people well for longer.
MySmile Trial
A clinical trial for people with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease, to study whether intensive (free) dental hygienist treatment can influence memory problems. MySmile examines whether improving oral health can slow down memory loss, testing out the theory that bacteria in the mouth could be linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
CareCoach
A study aimed at helping unpaid carers, for example a close friend or loved one who supports someone with dementia living at home. Carers of people with dementia would test out a package of online resources including tips and advice, to see if it is useful in reducing stress and improving wellbeing.
MAINTAIN: Independence after a fall
The Maintain Study aims to help people with dementia who have had a recent fall. Falls can often lead to a loss of confidence, a poorer quality of life and decreased independence. This study therefore provides activities to support people with dementia to maintain their independence at home, participants will be testing if the activities are useful.
Dementia research in progress:
Biogen Embark Trial
A clinical trial testing the potential benefits of the new drug called ‘aducanumab’, following a previous study at RICE and other centres around the world. Aducanumab works by clearing amyloid plaque build-up from the brain of people with Alzheimer’s disease. It is hoped that with less plaque in the brain, cognition could improve.
Evoke and Evoke Plus Trials
A clinical trial studying if the drug called ‘semaglutide’ can reduce cognitive decline and inflammation in people with early Alzheimer’s disease or Mild Cognitive Impairment. Semaglutide is already safely used to treat Type 2 Diabetes and works by altering the metabolic system and lowering inflammation throughout the body.
Janssen Autonomy Trial
A trial exploring whether a new medicine which targets a protein in brain cells called tau, could treat early Alzheimer’s disease by slowing memory loss and cognitive decline. In the brain of a person with Alzheimer’s disease, the tau proteins are abnormal and do not allow brain cells to function normally.
Join Dementia Research
We are always looking for volunteers to get involved in the vital dementia research undertaken at RICE, whether you have a memory condition or not. You do not need to have a diagnosis of dementia to take part in research and have an impact on the lives of future generations. Sign up to join dementia research.
I chose to be a research volunteer for RICE in support for my late father who died from Alzheimer’s in 2020. I wanted to find out if I was at higher risk from getting the same illness so took part in the Bath University Study of early dementia to help improve early diagnosis.
– Lynn Green, Research Volunteer