Pasqual Maragall Foundation seeks 400 volunteers to participate in study for early detection of Alzheimer
The volunteers will periodically undergo various tests in order to determine the factors that influence the onset of the disease.
By Biocat
The Pasqual Maragall Foundation and "la Caixa" Foundation have presented the Alfa study (Alzheimer and families), through which they aim to determine which factors influence the onset of this disease in order to act before symptoms appear.
There is currently no curative treatment for Alzheimer and it is normally diagnosed very late: when symptoms appear, brain damage is already irreversible. Recent research confirms that the onset of the disease may occur 15 or 20 years before clinical symptomology. Additionally, modern drugs developed in the past decades have shown ineffective in people that are already symptomatic.
"It is highly likely," highlighted Dr. Jordi Camí, director of the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, "that drugs to modify the evolution of the disease are ineffective because they are administered too late. We need to test these drugs in earlier stages, before symptoms appear. To do this, we need information on what happens in these stages and this is the aim of the alfa study."
For this study, the Pasqual Maragall Foundation needs 400 volunteers, children of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer, between 44 and 63 years old. Participants will undergo a series of tests every three years over a long period of time, ideally throughout their life.
"This is a top-notch research project, which will obtain key data for early diagnosis of Alzheimer. This makes the role of the volunteers essential," explained Enric Banda, director of Science, Research and the Environment at the "la Caixa" Foundation.
More information is available on the website www.alfaestudi.org or by contacting the Pasqual Maragall Foundation.