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Albany Medical Center Seeks Participants for New Alzheimer's Study

ALBANY, N.Y., May 14, 2007-- Nutritionists have long endorsed fish as part of a heart-healthy diet, and now some studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids found in the oil of certain fish, algae and human breast milk may also benefit those suffering from Alzheimer's disease. In order to test whether docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, can slow disease progression, researchers at the Alzheimer's Center at Albany Medical Center supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, will test whether DHA can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease in patients.

The local effort is part of a nationwide consortium of leading Alzheimer's disease researchers supported by NIA and coordinated by the University of California, San Diego. The trial will take place at 52 sites across the United States. It seeks 400 participants age 50 and older with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Albany Med is seeking to recruit about 20 volunteers. Earl A. Zimmerman, M.D., director of the Alzheimer's Center at Albany Med, will conduct the study locally.

"Because of its protective nature, DHA potentially could reduce the level of abnormal plaque, also known as amyloid, found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients," said Dr. Zimmerman. "Study volunteers will be critical to helping us find out if DHA can make an impact on slowing the progression of this destructive disease."

Researchers will primarily evaluate whether taking DHA over many months slows the progression of both cognitive and functional decline in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's. During the 18-month clinical trial, investigators will measure the progress of the disease using standard tests for functional and cognitive change.

In recent European studies and the Framingham Heart Study, scientists reported that people with the highest blood levels of DHA were about half as likely to develop Alzheimer's dementia as those with lower levels.

For the clinical trial the Martek Biosciences Corporation of Columbia, Md., will donate a pure form of DHA made from algae devoid of fish-related contaminants. Participants will receive either two grams of DHA per day or an inactive placebo pill. About 60 percent of participants will receive DHA, and 40 percent will get the placebo. Throughout the trial, doctors and nurses at the 52 research clinic sites will monitor the participants through periodic blood work, physical and neurological exams, and regular visits. To ensure unbiased results, neither the researchers conducting the trial nor the participants will know who is getting DHA and who is receiving the placebo.

In addition to monitoring disease progression through cognitive tests, researchers will also evaluate whether taking DHA supplements has a positive effect on physical and biological markers of Alzheimer's, such as brain atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging and proteins in blood and spinal fluid.

The NIA leads the federal effort that supports and conducts research on aging and the medical, social and behavioral issues of older people, including Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive decline. For more information visit the NIA's Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral Center at www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers, or call 1-800-438-4380. For general information on research and aging, go to www.nia.nih.gov and for information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

For more information about the study, contact the Alzheimer's Center at 518-262-0800 or email heckmas@mail.amc.edu.

Albany Medical Center is northeastern New York's only academic health sciences center. It consists of Albany Medical College, Albany Medical Center Hospital and the Albany Medical Center Foundation, Inc.