A clinical trial (also called clinical research) is a research study in human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people and ways to improve health. Interventional trials determine whether experimental treatments or new ways of using known therapies are safe and effective under controlled environments. Observational trials address health issues in large groups of people or populations in natural settings. The Ethnic Elders Care Dementia Clinical Trials Database is a listing of research on medications for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders compiled from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and  the NIA's Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center.

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NAME: ABT 418

FDA PHASE: Discontinued

NAME: Acetyl-l-carnitine HCI

OTHER NAMES: ALCAR

FDA PHASE: Discontinued

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Lessen cognitive deterioration

NAME: AF 102B

OTHER NAMES: cevimeline HCL, Evoxac™

FDA PHASE: Discontinued

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Improve neuronal responsiveness to neurotrophic factors.

NAME: Alpha-tocopherol

OTHER NAMES: Vitamin E

FDA PHASE: Recruiting

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Thought to prevent brain cell damage by destroying toxic free radicals.

NAME: Alzhemed™

FDA PHASE: Phase II/IIa/IIb

MECHANISMS: Inhibit Ab fibrillization, binds and reduces soluble Ab

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Designed to prevent amyloid formation and deposition in the brain, and thus modify the course of AD. Alzhemed™ is expected to act on two levels: firstly to prevent and stop the formation and deposition of amyloid fibrils in the brain as well as to bind to soluble Ab, and secondly to to inhibit the inflammatory response associated with amyloid build-up in AD.

NAME: AN 1792

OTHER NAMES: AIP 001

FDA PHASE: Discontinued

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: AN-1792 is a synthetic form of the 42 amino acid beta amyloid peptide. It is hypothesized that immunization with AN-1792 can prevent or reverse the development of the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's diseases, including extensive amyloid plaque formation, neuritic dystrophy, synaptic loss and gliosis.

NAME: Atorvastatin

OTHER NAMES: Lipitor™

FDA PHASE: Phase II/IIa/IIb

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: A multi-center analysis of over 60,000 patients indicated a decreased prevalence of AD in patients taking lovastatin and pravastatin, two statin drugs commonly used in lowering cholesterol. Several possible roles of statins in AD have been proposed, see our drug sheet on statins.

NAME: Besipirdine HCl

OTHER NAMES: HP 749

FDA PHASE: Discontinued

NAME: Beta- & Gamma-Secretase Inhibitors

FDA PHASE: Preclinical

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Beta-secretase and gamma-secretase are two proteases that cleave amyloid precursor protein, producing amyloid beta-peptide. Inhibiting these enzymes might reduce the burden of amyloid beta-peptide in AD patients' brains, which might then slow the progression of the disease.

NAME: Cerebrolysin

FDA PHASE: Phase II/III

MECHANISMS: Neotrophic Agents

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Cerebrolysin is believed to mimic a naturally occuring growth factor, thus generating or supporting the growth of brain cells.

NAME: Citalopram OTHER NAMES: Celexa FDA PHASE:Aprroved for treatment of depression MECHANISMS: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: May improve agitation and physical or verbally abusive behaviors in AD patients by pharmacologically stimulate serotonin receptor-mediated synaptic responses.

NAME: CX516

OTHER NAMES: Ampalex

FDA PHASE: Phase II/IIa/IIb

MECHANISMS: AMPAkines

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: May improve cognitive function in AD patients by pharmacologically stimulating AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic responses (a type of “docking site” that attaches the specialized messenger chemical glutamate). Reported to enhance memory performance in healthy elderly subjects.

NAME: Cyclophosphamide

OTHER NAMES: Cytoxan

FDA PHASE: Phase III

MECHANISMS: anti-inflammatory

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: May slow the rate of cognitive deterioration by decreasing inflammation in the brain.

NAME: Dapsone

OTHER NAMES: Avlosulfon

FDA PHASE: Phase II/IIa/IIb

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: As an anti-inflammatory drug, Dapsone might slow the progression of Alzheimer Disease.

NAME: Donepezil

OTHER NAMES: Aricepts™

FDA PHASE: FDA approved

MECHANISMS: cholinesterase inhibitors

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Improves cognition, global function, and activities of daily living.

NAME: Eptastigmine

OTHER NAMES: MF 201

FDA PHASE: Discontinued

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Improve cognition.

NAME: Estrogen

OTHER NAMES: Premarin™

FDA PHASE: Phase III

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Several epidemiological studies suggests the use of estrogen in postmenopausal women may delay the onset or risk of AD.

NAME: Exelon™

OTHER NAMES: Rivastigmine tartrate

FDA PHASE: FDA approved

MECHANISMS: cholinesterase inhibitors

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: It improves cognition, participation in activities of daily living, and global evaluation ratings in patients with mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's disease.

NAME: FJ960

OTHER NAMES:

FDA PHASE: Phase II

MECHANISMS: piperazine derivative that releases somatostatin from nerve terminals in the hippocampus

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Improve cognitive function in mild/moderate AD.

NAME: Galantamine

OTHER NAMES: Reminyl™

FDA PHASE: FDA approved

MECHANISMS: cholinesterase inhibitor

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Improve cognitive function in mild/moderate AD.

NAME: GT 1061

FDA PHASE: IND filed

MECHANISMS: novel mechanisms, but is related to some nitrates and thiazoles.

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: improved learning and memory in animals in which the cholinergic systems of the forebrain had been destroyed. comparable to Aricept in efficacy.

NAME: Huperzine A

FDA PHASE: Not FDA regulated

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Shows promise as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, similar to but potentially more potent than tacrine or donepezil. May also have neuroprotective effects.

NAME: Ibuprofen

OTHER NAMES: Advil™, Motrin™, Nuprin™

FDA PHASE: Phase III

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: May aid in preventing or delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease by decreasing inflammation in the brain.

NAME: Idebenone

FDA PHASE: Discontinued

ROLE IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: Improve cognitive and non-cognitive symptoms in mild/moderate AD. Protect cells from beta amyloid induced oxidative stress.