Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting about 6 million Americans. Until recently, no treatments slowed the disease itself — only medications that temporarily eased symptoms. The approval of lecanemab and donanemab in 2023-2024 marked the first drugs shown to modestly slow cognitive decline in early-stage disease.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing drugs that clear amyloid plaques, reduce tau tangles, calm brain inflammation, and protect nerve cells. Researchers are studying whether treating earlier — before symptoms appear — could prevent Alzheimer's entirely. Other trials focus on vascular risk factors like blood pressure and diabetes, which appear to influence dementia risk.
Anti-amyloid antibodies
Lecanemab and donanemab remove amyloid plaques and slow decline by about 30 percent in early Alzheimer's. Trials are now testing whether starting treatment before symptoms appear can prevent dementia.
Tau-targeting drugs
Tau tangles spread through the brain as Alzheimer's progresses and correlate closely with symptoms. Several antibodies and small molecules are being tested to block tau's spread or clear tangles.
Prevention trials
Studies are enrolling people at high genetic risk or with very early brain changes to test whether drugs can delay or prevent symptoms. These trials may last five to ten years.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on disease stage (mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia), confirmed amyloid in the brain by PET scan or spinal fluid test, and absence of certain brain bleeding risks on MRI.
What types of trials are currently open
- Amyloid-clearing trials — Testing antibodies that remove amyloid plaques, usually given by infusion every two to four weeks. Most require confirmed amyloid in the brain and mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.
- Tau trials — Testing drugs that target tau tangles, either by preventing tau from clumping or by clearing tangles already formed.
- Prevention trials — Enrolling people with no symptoms but high risk based on genetics or brain imaging. These studies test whether drugs can delay or prevent Alzheimer's from starting.
- Lifestyle trials — Testing whether exercise, diet, blood pressure control, or cognitive training can reduce dementia risk or slow decline.
- Symptom trials — Testing treatments for agitation, sleep problems, depression, or apathy in people with Alzheimer's.
Recently added Alzheimer's Disease trials
Study of Repetitive Behaviors in Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by anterograde amnesia, the inability to memorize and remember events occurring after the cerebral lesion. Among the most frequently reported psycho-behavioural symptoms are repetitive behaviours (RB), defined as actions or statements repeated in an inappropriate and non-functional way. The most commonly used tool to assess repetitive behaviours is the Stereotypy Rating Inventory (SRI). It is a questionnaire that evaluates five types of stereotypical behaviour: eating, wandering, speech, movements, and daily routines. The frequency and severity of the behaviours are reported, and a total score can be calculated. There is no consensus on the types of repetitive behaviours observed specifically in AD, their frequency, or their cognitive correlates, nor is there a hypothesis explaining why this symptomatology does not occur in all AD patients. Furthermore, certain parameters, such as anosognosia (lack of awareness of the disorders), have not been linked to RB in the literature. We propose to evaluate patients with anterograde amnesia in terms of cognition and behaviour-specifically, the presence or absence of both RB and anosognosia-to examine possible links between cognitive performance, anosognosia, and RB. Moreover, there is no theoretical framework explaining the emergence of RB in amnesia. We suggest that CRs are linked to the lack of memory updating in the cognitive system. Since episodic memory no longer provides mnemonic feedback, previously encountered stimuli may trigger repeated behaviour. To test this hypothesis, we decided to conduct a multicenter, cross-sectional, case-control study. Patients with AD, with or without RB, as well as healthy subjects, were repeatedly presented with sentence starters to complete freely, with the aim of studying the similarity of responses across sessions for each participant. We also included a patient with pure anterograde amnesia from a previously submitted case study protocol, who exhibited pronounced RB symptomatology following neurosurgery (non-AD patient), to examine the phenomenon in a non-Alzheimer's context.
Complete digital assessments to predict dementia risk factors
Population ageing is one of the main factors responsible for the global increase in the prevalence of dementia. Recent evidence suggests that modifiable risk factors, such as cardiovascular disease and lifestyle, may increase the risk of developing dementia and contribute to its progression. Furthermore, the use of non-invasive plasma biomarkers enables the identification of individuals with neurodegenerative diseases, even in the prodromal stage. However, the relationship between the cumulative burden of risk factors and plasma biomarkers is still poorly understood. The main objective of this study is to identify and estimate the risk associated with modifiable and non-modifiable predictors (risk factors) linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and non-AD dementia, as well as biological alterations consistent with AD or non-AD, through the development of a predictive tool based on Artificial Intelligence algorithms (Machine Learning model). The study also aims to provide a range of technological tools (an app for active patient monitoring and a web platform for clinicians) that could improve risk stratification and the personalisation of care pathways. The study is divided into two different phases. Firstly, a retrospective phase is conducted in order to construct a predictive model for the risk of dementia and biological alterations consistent with AD. Secondly, a prospective phase is performed for the validation of the predictive model.
Find Alzheimer's Disease trials matched specifically to you
Answer 3 quick questions and we'll show you trials that fit your situation.