More information
Clinical trials: where to find them
Clinical trials are the main way researchers discover whether preventive strategies and treatments are safe and effective. Participating in a trial can help you learn more about your specific situation and may lead to new knowledge and help for others.
To learn more and find trials that are looking for participants, contact the Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center at (800) 438-4380.
Support groups and advocacy organizations
The Alzheimer's Association offers support groups, educational workshops and other programs and services around the country. Call its 24/7 helpline at (800) 272-3900. Its "Maintain Your Brain" workshops can help you stay mentally and socially active, which may help prevent or delay the condition. Videos that cover many aspects of Alzheimer's, including current and upcoming treatments, diet and exercise, beta-amyloid proteins, the roles of inflammation and insulin resistance, and how to identify mild cognitive impairment can be viewed on this website as well.
Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center: A service of the National Institute on Aging, the center provides general information on the illness as well as resources for caregivers and links to research centers. The center also has up-to-date information on clinical trials and studies. Call (800) 438-4380.
Further reading: general information
Caselli, R.J. et al. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, vol. 67, p. 1784, November 2006. "Alzheimer's disease a century later. "
Isik, A.T. Clinical Intervention in Aging, vol. 11, p. 307, October. 2010. “Late onset Alzheimer's disease in older people.”
Sunderland, Trey et al. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, vol. 19, p. 172, September 2006. "Biomarkers in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: Are we ready?"
Further reading: prevention measures
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Evidence Review No. 114. "Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cognitive function with aging, dementia, and neurological diseases."
Altman R, et.al. Clinical Science (London), vol. 119, p. 407, August 5, 2010. “The vascular contribution to Alzheimer's disease."
Freund-Levi, Y. et al. Archives of Neurology, vol. 63, October 2006. "Omega-3 fatty acid treatment in 174 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease: OmegAD Study."
Middleton, L.E. et al. Journal of the American Geriatric Society, vol. 55, p. 1095, July 2007. "Exercise: a potential contributing factor to the relationship between folate and dementia."
Petersen, R.C. et al. New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 352, p. 2379, June 9, 2005. "Vitamin E and donepezil for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment."
Ringman, J. et al. Current Alzheimer Research, vol. 2, p. 131, April 2005. "A potential role of the curry spice curcumin in Alzheimer's disease."
Scarmeas, N. et al. Annals of Neurology, vol. 59, p. 912, June 2006. "Mediterranean diet and risk for Alzheimer's disease."
Whitmer, R.A. et al. Neurology, e-published March 26, 2008. "Central obesity and increased risk of dementia more than three decades later."
Wilson, R.S. et al. Neurology, vol. 68, p. 2085, June 12, 2007. "Chronic distress and incidence of mild cognitive impairment."
Wilson, R.S. et al. Neurology, vol. 69, p. 1911, Nov. 13, 2007. "Relation of cognitive activity to risk of developing Alzheimer disease."
Further reading: genetics
Bekris L.M. et al. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, vol. 23, p. 213. December. 2010 Dec;23(4):213-27. “Genetics of Alzheimer disease.”
Coon, Keith D. et al. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, vol. 68, p. 613. April 2007. "A high-density whole-genome association study reveals that APOE is the major susceptibility gene for sporadic late-onset Alzheimer's disease."