Following is a news release based on an article published in the July issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). The AAN is an association of more than 14,500 neurologists and neuroscience professionals dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. For a copy of the full article or for more information, contact Sarah Parsons or Rona Stewart at 612-623-8115 or by e-mail [email protected].
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1997
Participating in Clinical Trials Reduces Nursing Home Admissions for AlzheimerÃs Patients
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AlzheimerÃs disease patients who take part in clinical trials are 50 percent less likely to be placed in a nursing home, according to a study published in the July issue of the American Academy of NeurologyÃs scientific journal, Neurology.
The study involved 215 AlzheimerÃs patients who were offered opportunities to participate in various clinical trials. Of these, 101 participated in at least one clinical trial over a two-year period with one- and-a-half-year follow-up. These subjects were compared to 57 people who met trial eligibility requirements but chose not to participate and 57 people who were ineligible to participate in randomized clinical trials for reasons such as the presence of a life-threatening condition.
About 17 percent of the trial participants were admitted to nursing homes in the 3.5 years of follow-up, compared to about 35 percent among both the eligible non-participants and the ineligible patients.
ìAlzheimerÃs disease is a relentless disease that kills people at roughly the same rate, and simply participating in a clinical trial wonÃt change that,î said Steven Albert, PhD, MS, from Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center and the Department of Neurology at Columbia University and author of the study. ìHowever, clearly there are benefits to participating, such as reducing nursing home placement. It canÃt hurt to have more contact with the medical sector when dealing with a chronic degenerative disease such as AlzheimerÃs.î
The study suggests three reasons for the reduced nursing home admissions rate:
1) Positive effect on caregivers and patients through greater contact with medical centers and services may be linked to better caregiving. These individuals may be better able to cope with the demands and stresses of caregiving for people with dementia and may be less likely to place them in nursing homes.
2) Caregivers who encourage people with AlzheimerÃs to participate in clinical trials may be more highly motivated than caregivers who donÃt encourage participation and may be less likely admit AlzheimerÃs patients to nursing homes.
3) In other studies, a reduced risk of nursing home admission was seen in people on long-term higher doses of some AlzheimerÃs drugs. While these effects may be small, they may delay nursing home placement.
Approximately four million Americans have AlzheimerÃs disease, and that number is estimated to increase to at least seven million by the 21st century.
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