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
Evaluation of Blood-Based Biomarkers and Remote Cognitive Assessment for Dementia Triage (SANDBOX)
Dementia is a leading cause of death in the UK, and long waits for diagnosis can delay access to care and treatment. The SANDBOX study is a research study in NHS Memory Clinics investigating whether providing clinicians with additional test results could help them diagnose dementia earlier. Adults aged 50 or over who have been referred to a Memory Clinic by their GP may be invited to take part. Taking part is voluntary and will not affect a participant's care. Participation adds to their NHS care and does not replace or delay it. Participants complete three assessments: a blood test that measures two proteins which can indicate whether Alzheimer's-related changes may be happening in the brain (not currently available on the NHS); a genetic test for the APOE gene, which influences Alzheimer's risk; and a cognitive assessment of memory and thinking that includes a recorded speech task analysed for subtle language changes. All results are shared with the participant's clinician. This research will help determine whether this approach can support earlier dementia diagnosis and improve care for patients across the UK.
Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) Combined With Cognitive Training in Alzheimer's Disease
The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinical and biological efficacy, as well as predictors of efficacy, of a home-based intervention combining transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with individualized computerized cognitive training in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). In neurodegenerative diseases, including AD, neurodegeneration is accompanied by alterations in brain oscillatory activity. Restoration of these oscillations through neuronal entrainment has shown beneficial effects in animal models, while previous studies in patients with AD have demonstrated that gamma-frequency tACS applied over the precuneus is safe and well tolerated and is associated with improvements in cognitive performance and cholinergic function, as well as modulation of brain oscillatory activity. Cognitive rehabilitation may also improve memory performance in patients with mild AD. Based on this evidence, the present study investigates a multimodal approach combining gamma-tACS with individualized computerized memory training. The study is a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial involving 30 participants with mild AD. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group 1 will receive real gamma-tACS for 8 weeks (5 sessions/week, 60 minutes/session) combined with cognitive training (2 sessions/week, 30 minutes/session); Group 2 will receive sham tACS according to the same schedule, combined with the same cognitive training. tACS will be applied over the precuneus. Treatment will initially be performed in the hospital and will subsequently be administered at home under remote supervision by the study team. Assessments will be performed at baseline (T00), after 8 weeks of treatment (T08), and at follow-up visits at 16 weeks (T16) and 24 weeks (T24) from baseline. At each time point, participants will undergo clinical and neuropsychological assessment, blood sampling, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The occurrence of adverse events will be monitored throughout the duration of the study. The main objectives of the study are: 1) to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of the combined intervention on cognitive performance; 2) to investigate intervention-induced changes in biological markers of neurodegeneration, inflammation, and synaptic function; 3) to evaluate the effects of the intervention on cholinergic transmission through the TMS short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) measure; and 4) to investigate potential predictors of treatment efficacy.
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