Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting more than 6 million Americans. Until recently, treatment focused on managing symptoms. New amyloid-targeting drugs that slow disease progression are now approved, marking a shift in how doctors approach early-stage Alzheimer's.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing drugs that target amyloid plaques, tau tangles, inflammation, and metabolism. Lecanemab and donanemab are approved anti-amyloid antibodies that slow early decline by several months. Researchers are also studying combination treatments, earlier intervention in people without symptoms, and approaches for advanced disease where current drugs don't work.
Anti-tau therapies
Tau tangles correlate more closely with cognitive decline than amyloid plaques. Several antibodies and small molecules are now in late-stage trials targeting tau to see if they can slow or stop progression.
Blood-based diagnostics
Blood tests that detect amyloid and tau are becoming available, making diagnosis faster and less invasive than PET scans or spinal taps. These tests are accelerating trial enrollment and may eventually guide treatment decisions.
Prevention trials
Studies are treating people with early biomarker changes but no symptoms, aiming to prevent Alzheimer's before damage accumulates. These trials will take years but could redefine when treatment starts.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on disease stage (mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia), confirmed amyloid pathology, and often exclusion of other causes of cognitive problems.
What types of trials are currently open
- Anti-amyloid trials — Testing antibodies or other drugs that clear amyloid plaques from the brain. Most require confirmed amyloid on PET scan or blood test and focus on early-stage disease.
- Anti-tau trials — Testing drugs that target tau tangles, which form inside brain cells and track closely with symptoms. Some studies combine anti-tau with anti-amyloid drugs.
- Prevention trials — Treating people with biomarker evidence of Alzheimer's but no cognitive symptoms, to see if early treatment prevents decline.
- Symptom trials — Testing drugs for thinking, mood, behavior, and daily function in people with mild to moderate dementia.
- Observational studies — Following people over time to understand how Alzheimer's progresses, what factors affect risk, and how biomarkers change before symptoms appear.
Recently added Alzheimer's Disease trials
Transcranial Random Noise (tRNS) for BPSD in Alzheimer's Disease: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial
To investigate the treatment effect of Transcranial random noise (tRNS) on Alzheimer patients, and the underlying neural mechanism by EEG.
A Postmarketing Study of Lecanemab for the Treatment of Participants With Alzheimer's Disease
The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of lecanemab-irmb in the real-world clinical setting as reported by events of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA)-edema (ARIA-E), ARIA-hemosiderin deposition (ARIA-H), symptomatic ARIA-E, symptomatic ARIA-H, and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) greater-than 1 cm in participants treated with lecanemab-irmb. The secondary purpose of this study is to: Evaluate the safety of lecanemab-irmb in the real-world clinical setting as reported by events of seizures, anaphylaxis, central nervous system (CNS) ischemic event, and death. Assess the safety of lecanemab-irmb when stratified by baseline characteristics including apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings consistent with a high risk for cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), prior Alzheimer's Disease (AD) treatments, and antithrombotic therapy. Assess the risk of safety outcomes (ARIA-E, ARIA-H, ICH greater than 1 cm, seizures, anaphylaxis, CNS ischemic event, and death) associated with APOE genotype, baseline MRI findings consistent with high risk for CAA, prior AD treatment, and antithrombotic therapy within participants exposed to lecanemab-irmb in ALZ-NET. Assess the risk of safety outcomes (ARIA-E, ARIA-H, ICH greater than 1 cm, seizures, anaphylaxis, CNS ischemic event, and death) between participants exposed to lecanemab-irmb in ALZ-NET and subjects exposed to lecanemab irmb in Study 301. Assess the risk of safety outcomes (ARIA-E, ARIA-H, ICH greater than 1 cm, seizures, anaphylaxis, CNS ischemic event,and death) between participants exposed to lecanemabirmb in ALZ-NET and subjects exposed to placebo (PBO) in Study 301. Assess the risk of safety outcomes (ARIA-E, ARIA-H, ICH greater than 1 cm, seizures, anaphylaxis, CNS ischemic event, and death) between participants exposed to lecanemab-irmb in ALZ-NET and participants not exposed to anti-amyloid therapies in ALZ-NET. Assess whether the risk of safety outcomes associated with APOE genotype, baseline MRI findings consistent with high risk for CAA, prior Alzheimer's Disease treatments, and antithrombotic therapy differs between participants exposed to lecanemab-irmb in ALZ-NET versus those not exposed to anti-amyloid therapies in ALZ-NET.
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