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Back when I worked as a nurse in a memory care unit, I remember attending a fascinating workshop about Alzheimer’s disease. The speaker updated us on groundbreaking research being done in the field. He said he was confident that scientists would discover a cure for Alzheimer’s disease within the next ten years.
That was over 20 years ago, and there’s still no cure. Kind of discouraging, isn’t it? But we can’t give up hope!
I’m sure you know people who are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could play a significant role in ending this terrible disease?
The Alzheimer’s Association sponsors a tremendous program called TrialMatch. It connects patients, caregivers, healthy volunteers, and medical professionals with over 250 clinical trials around the country.
What is a clinical trial? It’s a research study looking at whether a medication or treatment is safe and effective for humans. Consider these points as you decide whether a clinical trial is right for you:
Pros:
- You have access to a promising treatment before it’s available to the public.
- Treatment is provided at no cost to you. There also may be compensation for your time and travel.
- You’ll receive care and treatment from experts in the field.
- You’re free to leave the study at any time.
- You can continue to see your primary physician.
- You’ll help other people.
Cons:
- The treatment may not work, or it may not work as well as other therapies currently available.
- You could experience side effects.
- Even if the treatment works well for you, the study might need to be discontinued if other participants experience serious side effects.
- You may need to travel long distances.
- It can be very time-consuming.
- Some people receive a placebo instead of the actual treatment.
Interested? For more information about the TrialMatch program, check out this website or call 1-800-272-3900. Maybe you’ll help find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease!
Update: You can also help find a way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease by participating in the GeneMatch program.
Erin @ burdenfreecaregiving.com says
I love your site! We have similar interests. After working with the caregivers of Dementia patients for many years, I recently began a blog for caregivers. It is so exciting to find someone with a shared love for helping others who are going through tremendously difficult times.
Diane says
Thank you for visiting my blog, Erin, and thank you for your kind words. I just checked out your site, too, and I’m impressed with the great variety of helpful articles.