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Clinical Trials

Hello good people, I am a nurse and helping my mother newly diagnosed with AD. Her neurologist said there's nothing more he can do and our best option is to find a clinical trial. I am finding this difficult as she cannot undergo MRI due to a metal clamp for an aneurysm she has. The new infusion drug Leqembi is contraindicated for her due to the necessity for MRIs, and I'm finding this to be the case with other clinical trial research meds out there. Does anyone else have any experience with clinical trials that have been beneficial that don't require MRI scans?

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  • M1
    M1 Member Posts: 6,788
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    Welcome to the forum. I suspect all of the therapeutic trials are going to require imaging, unfortunately, since thats how the most serious side effects like brain swelling and bleeds have been identified. That makes it especially hard to accept that there may be no way to intervene, but sadly that's still the case for most of us. If it's any consolation, even the newer meds are unimpressive as yet (especially in older women) so I also suspect you are not really losing much here.

  • Iris L.
    Iris L. Member Posts: 4,373
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    Learn about Best Practices. They may help your mom prolong the early stages, but they are not intended to be a cure.

    Iris

  • ButterflyWings
    ButterflyWings Member Posts: 1,752
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    I was searching for the list of Best Practices I recall, which is diet, exercise, and rest related. Did not run across that yet, but I did find this which I haven't seen before. Lots of good tips across the board, and there is a section on healthy lifestyle which can help as Iris mentioned.

    https://www.alzheimers.gov/life-with-dementia/tips-caregivers

  • Iris L.
    Iris L. Member Posts: 4,373
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    BW, that is an excellent resource site. Thanks for sharing.

    Best Practices include:

    --taking meds as prescribed, including memory meds if tolerated

    --eating the Mediterranean diet with antioxidants and omega-3 fats

    --exercising vigorously, to tolerance

    --continuing to stimulate the brain

    --conyinuing to socialize

    Also, get restful sleep and avoid stress and consider alternative or complimentary medicine.

    Iris

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
Read more