Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Phoenix has been awarded a $33 million federal grant to help fund a new trial that hopes to discover a treatment to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
The study will test 650 people, ages 60 to 75, who have inherited copies of the risk gene from both their mother and father, putting them at the greatest risk for the disease, but who have no memory problems at this time.
The National Institutes of Health grant is part of the government’s national Alzheimer’s plan. It is the largest federal grant to date to test a drug specifically designed to prevent Alzheimer’s in people without symptoms. The trial is expected to cost as much as $150 million, including funding from the drug industry and philanthropic sources.
Banner is also conducting a study of a large Colombian family that carries a genetic mutation that all but assures members will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Both studies are under the direction of Drs. Eric Reiman and Pierre Tariot of Banner Alzheimer’s Institute.
For more information:
“Banner Alzheimer’s Institute wins $33.2 million grant to study drug,” Arizona Republic, 9/18/13
“Test of Alzheimer’s drug gets large federal grant,” New York Times, 9/18/13