New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting more than 6 million Americans. Until recently, approved treatments only managed symptoms temporarily. Two new antibody drugs that clear amyloid plaques from the brain—aducanumab and lecanemab—mark the first therapies shown to slow cognitive decline, though the effect is modest and not everyone qualifies.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing drugs that target tau tangles, reduce inflammation in the brain, and protect nerve cells from damage. Researchers are also studying combination therapies that address both amyloid and tau, lifestyle interventions that may delay onset, and blood tests that could detect Alzheimer's years before symptoms appear. Some trials focus on people with genetic risk or early biomarker changes.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on cognitive test scores, confirmation of amyloid plaques through PET scan or spinal fluid, genetic status for APOE4, and absence of other dementia causes or significant vascular disease.

What types of trials are currently open

• Anti-amyloid trials — Testing antibodies that remove amyloid plaques from the brain, typically through monthly or biweekly infusions. Participants need regular MRI monitoring for brain swelling or bleeding.
• Anti-tau trials — Testing drugs that target tau tangles or prevent tau from spreading between brain cells. These may work in people with more advanced disease than anti-amyloid drugs.
• Prevention trials — Testing whether treatments can delay or prevent Alzheimer's in people with genetic risk, family history, or early biomarker changes but no symptoms yet.
• Combination trials — Testing multiple drugs together—often an anti-amyloid drug plus an anti-tau drug or anti-inflammatory—to see if targeting several problems at once works better.
• Lifestyle intervention studies — Studies examining whether exercise, diet changes, cognitive training, or managing cardiovascular risk can slow cognitive decline or reduce Alzheimer's risk.