Sponsored by Merck
(NAPSI)—Have you or someone you love been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that affects memory, thinking and behavior. It’s the most common cause of dementia, which is a word used to describe memory loss and other thinking problems that affect daily life. (Source: Alzheimer’s Association)
“The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are different from person to person and get worse over time,” said Dr. Brandon Lenox, chief medical officer of K2 Medical Research. “The most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include memory loss, trouble finding words or speaking, difficulty learning new things or solving problems and changes in mood or personality.”
Alzheimer’s disease affects approximately seven million people in the U.S. Black Americans aged 65 or older are nearly twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s disease compared to white Americans the same age. Additionally, Alzheimer’s disease is more common among women than men, and women make up approximately two-thirds of people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the U.S. (Sources: Alzheimer’s Association & Alzheimer’s Dement.)
“It’s important for individuals and their families to feel empowered to play an active role in their health journey,” said Dr. Lenox. “Through culturally sensitive and effective community engagement, we can help ensure that people have an opportunity to consider clinical trials and determine with their health care provider whether participation may be right for them.”
There is a clinical trial underway that is evaluating an investigational drug for adults living with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Researchers are evaluating whether the investigational drug is safe and may work well compared to placebo, when people take it with their current Alzheimer’s disease dementia medicine.
Researchers are looking for people who may be able to join the MK-1167-008 (NCT06721156) clinical trial. To qualify for this clinical trial, participants must be 55 to 90 years old and:
- Have mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease dementia;
- Be taking a type of medicine for Alzheimer’s disease dementia called a cholinergic medicine, such as donepezil, galantamine or rivastigmine;
- Have a trial partner/caregiver who can attend all trial visits;
- Meet additional criteria for the trial that will be assessed by the study doctor.
Participation in the clinical trial is voluntary, and people are free to leave at any time. Participant privacy will be maintained throughout the trial.
If someone qualifies for the clinical trial, they will receive the investigational drug or placebo (a placebo looks like the investigational drug but has no active ingredients) and study-related medical exams at no cost. Please note that participants may or may not directly benefit from study participation. The study doctor can answer any questions and discuss the possible risks and benefits of participation.
Merck is committed to researching and developing investigational medicines to see whether they may help treat, slow progression or prevent central nervous system disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease.
For more information, visit https://www.merckclinicaltrials.com/alzheimersclinicaltrial.
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