The Douglas Institute is part of an international effort to investigate a new treatment
A vaccine-based approach could be an effective therapy for people with mild or moderate forms of Alzheimer’s disease. The medication used for this therapy will be tested at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, participating in an international effort to find out more about this treatment.

“Most current therapies for Alzheimer’s treat the symptoms associated with it and not the disease itself. Our goal with this clinical trial is to explore if this investigational drug can help control the progression of Alzheimer’s,” says N. P. Vasavan Nair, MD, director of Human Psychopharmacology Trials at the Douglas and principal researcher on this study.

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of memory and cognitive function. It destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behaviour severe enough to affect everyday life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. “This new study will look at how the investigational drug can eliminate the protein (beta-amyloid) causing the damage,” adds Dr. Nair.

Dr. Nair is participating in ICARA (Investigational Clinical Amyloid Research in Alzheimer’s) —an international clinical study to learn if an investigational drug can help control the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. In total, approximately 2,050 patients will be enrolled at research sites in North America.

Seeking Study Volunteers With Alzheimer’s Disease
Dr Nair points out that it is important for patients and families affected by Alzheimer’s to consider participating in clinical studies. “Clinical studies that test new treatments are the best chance we have for fighting this disease.” Participants for the ICARA study must be between 50 and 88 years of age, have a diagnosis of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease and have a caregiver who is willing to be involved in the study. A medical team, including a nurse or study coordinator and a physician, will monitor participants throughout the study.

To find out more about the study, please contact Dr. Nair’s team:
Tanya Bossy:  514-761-6131, ext. 4406
Jennie-Laure Sully: 514 761-6131, ext. 3458.
Or visit www.douglasrecherche.qc.ca/icara