SIU Med School Researchers Searching for Effective Alzheimer's Disease Treatments

As the population in the United States ages, so does the number of Americans affected by Alzheimer's disease. The number of people being treated for the disease has doubled since 1980 and now totals 4.5 million or about 11 percent of people over the age of 65 years. By 2050 that number is expected to increase to more than 11 million people.

Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's disease at this time, research is being conducted and new treatments are being tested at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and its Center for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders (CADRD) in the hope of finding a more effective treatment for patients.

"Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities," says Dr. Dennis McManus, associate professor of neurology and a member of SIU's CADRD in Springfield.

"As the disease progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations," explained McManus. In the late stages of the disease, individuals need help with dressing, personal hygiene, eating and other basic functions.

Alzheimer's disease drains patients' families both physically and emotionally. They become over-burdened, struggling to care for their elderly loved ones, who often can no longer remember their children's faces, how to feed themselves, or how to sit in a chair.

Several national Alzheimer's disease clinical drug trials are being conducted at SIU, directed by McManus and Dr. Tom Ala, associate professor of neurology.

"It's an exciting time because we are testing a lot of the therapy and theoretical knowledge that has been gained during the past 20 years and literally bringing it from the laboratory to the patient," said McManus.

The three clinical trials directed by McManus are testing drug therapies that are designed to attack abnormal inflammation and deposits of abnormal proteins in the brain, which leads to dysfunction and memory loss in patients.

"We hope these trials will help improve patients' quality of life and allow them to age gracefully and take care of themselves longer," explained McManus. The three companies sponsoring the trials are Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmeceuticals, Inc., ONO Pharma USA and Neurochem, Inc.

The two trials under Ala's direction are part of a nationwide study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and joint projects of SIU's neurology and psychiatry departments. He is working with Sandra Vicari, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry. One study is testing the drug, quetiapine, to determine if it will help treat the behavioral problems of people who have dementia along with symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Ala also is testing whether taking high-dose supplements of vitamins B6, B12 and folate will slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease by lowering the homocysteine levels in Alzheimer's patients. Homocysteine is an amino acid in the blood, which is an indicator of vascular health including cholesterol levels, plaque and hardening of the arteries.

"Many researchers believe there is a connection between Alzheimer's disease and vascular health, so this has become a very hot topic in national research," said Ala.

SIU's Alzheimer Center in Springfield is made up of a team of medical specialists including neurologists and neuropsychologists. They use a variety of diagnostic techniques to define the source of the problem and prescribe the correct treatment. A comprehensive evaluation is essential because no single test or examination can yield a definite diagnosis.

SIU has designed a network of 26 primary provider sites serving 93 counties as part of its Springfield-based center. The network is made up of physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and nursing home administrators trained to identify patients who may have Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. Last year, the SIU Center and its provider sites saw more than 1,680 Alzheimer patients and Parkinson disease patients.

The SIU Alzheimer Center uses a toll-free telephone number to answer questions about Alzheimer disease or related memory disorders, 1-800-DIAL-SIU (1-800-342-5748). The Center's web site is www.siumed.edu/cadrd/.

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Note to editors: A JPG image of Dr. Ala and Dr. McManus checking the progress of a patient is available by calling SIU Public Affairs at 217-545-2155 or emailing publicaffairs@siumed.edu.