For FULL-SCREEN-VIEW, click the icon in the lower right corner of video.
Every 72 seconds, someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
It's being called the healthcare crisis of the 21st century.
Researchers now better understand the disease, but there is no cure.
Slowing down the disease is key, and Elkhart has been tapped as a testing site for part of an international study using an investigational Alzheimer's drug.
Doctor Thomas Vidic, Medical Director at the Elkhart Clinic, calls the study exciting.
"If the data is suggestive that it looks like a good treatment for Alzheimer's, the company has to compile all the data and then submit it to the FDA," Dr. Vidic explains.
65-year-old Jacquelyn Hoyt of Niles spent forty years of her life taking care of others as a nurse.
She found out three years ago she has Alzheimer's disease.
"That was a tough time," said Jacquelyn.
But she didn't remember why she quit working. Her husband Arthur had to fill in the blanks.
They decided to enroll in the ICARA, or Bapi study, at the Elkhart Clinic -- one of seventy sites nationwide testing a new Alzheimer's drug.
"We all know there are people with very, very mild Alzheimer's, there's people with severe Alzheimer's," said Dr. Vidic. "We're basically looking for people in the middle.
Slowing down Alzheimer's is the challenge facing the newest Alzheimer's medications in clinical trials. Bapineuzumab infusions are showing real potential.
So far Jacquelyn and six other patients in Michiana have fit the profile.
Patients get seven infusions over a several month period, much like chemo. This is the third phase of the study, so if it's promising, the next step is FDA approval for use by Alzheimer's patients.
Dr. Vidic says they have hope that the drug they are testing could influence the protein in the brain that causes Alzheimer's.
"And allow for either slowing down the disease or the patient being able to function at a higher level," said Dr. Vidic.
But he says they make no promises and the patients know that some of them will be getting a placebo.
"They're in this for the science, they know that this is to advance maybe for them, especially for understanding the disease process and understanding at least a treatment for the future," said Dr. Vidic.
Jackie knows it may not cure her Alzheimer's.
"I am a retired nurse and so you know you never get out of that realm," said Jacquelyn.
"We are moving forward," said Dr. Vidic. "I think that's the exciting part."
An exciting part that Arthur and Jacquelyn hope will benefit them and maybe one day millions of people suffering from Alzheimer's.
"All we can do is wait," said Arthur.
They are still looking for patients with moderate Alzheimer's to take part in the ICARA, or Bapi, study at the Elkhart Clinic. Contact Dr. Randy Gibson for more information.
Elkhart Clinic Contact Information
ICARA-Bapi Alzheimer's Study
Dr. Randy Gibson
(574)296-3900
303 S. Nappanee Street
Elkhart, Indiana
More about bapineuzumab's ICARA STUDY on this site:
Bapineuzumab is a promising potential medication for Alzheimer's and related dementias. It is currently moving forward in phase 3 clinical trials, where dosing adjustments were just made.
Fred Ruekert is part of a phase three trial to test a therapeutic antibody designed to target beta amyloid, an abnormal protein in the brain that's linked to Alzheimer's. Here's his story.
An experimental Alzheimer's medication called bapineuzumab just finished an 18-month trial. It appeared to have clinical activity in treating Alzheimer’s, particularly for the many patients not carrying genes associated with Alzheimer's.
