News Summary
Increasingly, older adults are stepping up to participate in clinical trials aimed at understanding Alzheimer’s disease. At UC San Diego, the Women: Inflammation and Tau Study (WITS) focuses on the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer’s on women. With a significant number of participants also having undiagnosed sleep apnea, the ongoing research highlights a proactive approach to managing cognitive health. Volunteers are encouraged to contribute to this vital research, with compensation provided for their involvement.
San Diego – Older adults are increasingly stepping forward to participate in groundbreaking clinical trials that aim to enhance our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease. The Women: Inflammation and Tau Study (WITS) at UC San Diego focuses on why women are significantly more affected by Alzheimer’s, aiming to recruit 45 additional participants aged 65 and older for its ongoing research. Women currently represent two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases and are nearly twice as likely to develop the condition when compared to men.
As part of the study, Sharen Gibson, a 72-year-old volunteer, underwent a spinal tap—an essential procedure in the research. Gibson characterized the experience as straightforward, describing it as involving a tiny needle, lasting about five minutes, and requiring only two vials of spinal fluid. She noted the significance of being proactive about health issues, particularly in preventing Alzheimer’s disease, stating a commitment to resist aging passively.
Gibson and her wife, Roxanne Hoffert, 66, are representative of a growing trend in which older adults volunteer as healthy participants in clinical research. Along with WITS, the duo is involved in another study, the Brain Research Health Study, which utilizes virtual reality games as a cognitive training tool designed to promote brain health.
Directed by Dr. Sarah Banks and Dr. Erin Sundermann, the WITS study is particularly interested in examining biological patterns that may contribute to the progression of dementia in women. Recent findings indicate that approximately 70% of participants in the study have undiagnosed sleep apnea, a known risk factor for cognitive decline. Such cases are often more challenging to identify in women due to differences in the way symptoms present compared to men.
Participants in the study undergo various assessments, including a tau PET scan to detect protein accumulation in the brain, cognitive testing, blood work, and the aforementioned spinal tap. The five-year study is supported by a $7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Compensation for participants includes payments ranging from $585 and assistance with transportation, as well as handcrafted quilts donated by local quilt guilds. Alongside WITS, the Brain Research Health Study seeks to explore lifestyle factors—including diet, exercise, and sleep—impacting brain health and is currently looking for 39 more female volunteers.
Older adults are encouraged to engage in clinical trials as a means to contribute toward essential medical research focused on Alzheimer’s disease. Resources for interested volunteers can be found on UC San Diego’s healthy volunteer studies website, shedding light on opportunities for active participation in scientific discovery.
The growing incidence of Alzheimer’s in the United States accentuates the importance of such research. Currently, over 7 million senior citizens across the nation are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In California alone, approximately 12% of individuals over the age of 65 live with the condition, a trend that poses a national crisis, particularly acute in areas like San Diego.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Caregiver Finds Relief Through Art Amid Alzheimer’s Challenges
Additional Resources
- Axios: Alzheimer’s Disease Research at UC San Diego
- Wikipedia: Alzheimer’s Disease
- Reuters: Roche and Lilly’s Blood Test for Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
- Google Search: Alzheimer’s Trials
- San Diego Union Tribune: Walkers Fill NTC Park to Fight Alzheimer’s
- Google Scholar: Alzheimer’s Disease Research
- CBS8: Walk4ALZ to Raise Awareness for Alzheimer’s
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Alzheimer’s Disease
