Phase II Trial Underway of Experimental Vaccine for Alzheimer's Patients

A total of 375 patients at 20 medical centers are taking part in phase II trials of an experimental vaccine for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

Research participants are being vaccinated with amyloid protein, similar to the protein produced in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, in the hope it will activate the body's immune system to produce antibodies.

Prior studies in animals have shown the vaccine to cause an immune response that cleared out beta amyloid plaques in the brains of mice.

"The idea behind the Alzheimer's vaccine is exciting because no therapies currently can prevent Alzheimer's or stop the progression of the disease," said Dr. Rachelle Doody, principal investigator of the study and director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center at Baylor College of Medicine. "We look forward to discovering the vaccine's true potential."

Regular testing of the patient's cognitive skills will be conducted during the trial, and MRIs will "show whether the brain is continuing to shrink or not, which is a sign of advancing Alzheimer's," said Doody.

"There has been massive public interest in this study based on results of the vaccine in mice," said Doody. "But it is important for the public to know that while this vaccine could be a promising treatment for Alzheimer's, it is just in the beginning stages of research and is not a cure."

Other sources: Baylor College of Medicine