Volunteers needed for Alzheimer's medication trial

Volunteers needed for Alzheimer's medication trial
The /Department of Psychiatry at The University of Queensland is conducting a six month clinical trial of a new medication that may help people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. They are seeking volunteers over the age of 50 to participate.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in older people. It affects memory and interferes with ability to think. The medication being tested may help people with this disease by increasing chemicals in the brain that help brain cells regenerate.

Associate Professor Gerard Byrne said he was looking for participants who had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and who were otherwise healthy and living at home with a carer. People with memory problems that interfere with their life but who have not been evaluated for Alzheimer's disease will also be considered.

Participants in the trial are required to take 5 mls of medicine every morning for six months. They will need to attend the outpatients department at the Royal Brisbane Hospital on six occasions over this period. These appointments will usually last two hours and will involve extensive memory tests, blood pressure measurement, and blood and urine tests.

Not everyone will be given the active medicine - there is a 20 percent chance of getting a placebo, or non-active medicine.

Assessment and participation in the program is free of charge.

If you are interested, or know of someone who may be interested, please contact research nurse, Liz Arnold, telephone 3835 9443 or email liz@psychiatry.uq.edu.au.

Media enquiries: Assoc Prof Gerard Byrne, pager 3309 1120; email: g.byrne@psychiatry.uq.edu.au