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People in the Alzheimer's community need HOPE. Clinical trials are important because they may lead to better treatments, reversal of disease and "maybe" a cure.
When scientists develop a new treatment, like a drug for Alzheimer's disease they have to test it first to see if it is safe!
The medication is tested in stages called Phases. The phases check for SAFETY, SIDE EFFECTS and EFFECTIVENESS (whether the drug is working or not). Each Phase has a trial.
Phase 1 trial - tests to see if the treatment is safe, has side effects, and the correct dosage. (Only a small amount of people participate in a Phase 1 trial. IF everything is ok, then a Phase II trial is given.
Phase II trial - tests a bigger group of people. Scientists want to see how well the drug works (efficacy). Researchers gather data to see if the treatment is helping.
Phase III trial - tests more people and diverse communities in the population. Different doses are tested. Sometimes the treatment medication is combined with another medication.
GOOD NEWS - If the scientists determine that the Phase III trial is working it can be approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA)! That means that there could be a NEW treatment to help people with Alzheimer's and other dementias.
Phase IV trial - After FDA approval the researchers conduct post-marketing studies (required by the FDA) they continue to make sure that the medication is effective and safe.
Scientists are studying many drugs and treatments for Alzheimer's disease. We must never lose hope!
Click here to read an article from the Alzheimer's Prevention Registry: https://bit.ly/3qG5wvc
Grandma was in the hospital A LOT in the last 4 years of her life. Many hospitals did not understand how to communicate with an Alzheimer's patient.
The staff would try to explain medical procedures. There were too many instructions. Grandma did not know where she was, or why they were doing things to her.
I knew that a Dry Erase Board was the answer! I used them a lot in school when I was younger! I actually told the staff at NYU Hospital about the benefit of using one. They were impressed and ordered them for Alzheimer's patients! YES!
I suggested that they follow the 5 W's on the Dry Erase Board. (Who, What, When, Where, Why and sometimes How).
Example of writings for the Dry Erase in a Hospital:
You are at NYU hospital (who)
You broke your hip (what)
The hospital is going to help (why)
Keep directions simple.
When I used it with grandma I wanted to be sure she was not in pain!
I am so amazed with LegoSeriousPlay! I learned about it through my friend Ms. Loretta Woodward Veney from UsAgainstAlzheimer's. She is so inspirational and uses Legos to stimulate her mother who has Alzheimer's.
The great Dr. King said, "how can we serve others?" Our enthusiastic volunteers have spent the whole weekend and MLK Day distributing puzzles across the country. WE are very excited to be resuming PUZZLE TIME soon! Until then...our volunteers are making sure that Alzheimer's patients have plenty of puzzles to solve!
