University Hospitals Part of Study Aiming to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

CLEVELAND, Ohio – November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and researchers at University Hospitals are part of the AHEAD Study, which tests whether intervening ahead of Alzheimer’s symptoms can prevent future memory loss and dementia.

“Most people have been or will be touched by Alzheimer’s disease—whether it’s family members, friends, neighbors or colleagues. The AHEAD Study presents a tremendous opportunity to possibly get ahead of the disease before it starts,” said Alan Lerner, MD, neurologist and Alzheimer’s disease researcher at UH.

By 2025, more than 250,000 people 65 and older in Ohio are projected to have Alzheimer’s disease (a 14 percent increase from today). The NIH-funded AHEAD Study will study research volunteers between the ages of 55 and 80 to see if an investigational treatment can help prevent the earliest signs of memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease.

The AHEAD Study consists of two different clinical trials testing the same investigational treatment (known as BAN2401 (lecanemab)). Participants are enrolled in one of the two trials based on the level of amyloid, a protein that builds up in people who can go on to have memory problems and develop Alzheimer’s disease. Discovering a treatment that targets brain changes early means doctors may be able to one day prevent memory loss.

In addition to being Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, November is also National Family Caregivers Month. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, there are 53 million family caregivers in the United States, of which 15.7 million (26 percent) are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

The study has a priority to enroll people who reflect the diversity of the United States and people at the greatest risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.

There are more than 100 study locations worldwide, including University Hospitals.

For more information, visit AHEADStudy.org or call 1-800-243-2370.