In Washington State, an estimated 126,700 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease. This is about 10 per cent of the state’s population in that age group.
Northwest Clinical Research Center specializes in clinical trials for new medications designed to slow or prevent diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Led by medical director Dr. Arif Khan, along with Principal Investigators Dr. Arun Arora and Dr. Aishwarya Prasad, the center is one of only a handful in the Northwest dedicated to this type of work.
“We see patients from 55 to 85 years old who are experiencing problems with memory and concentration,” says Khan. “Sometimes they’ve been diagnosed, sometimes they haven’t, we help with that as well.”
Of course, Alzheimer’s disease affects not only the individual, but their loved ones.
The disease is the third leading cause of death in the state, after cancer and heart disease. Additionally, approximately 247,000 family caregivers in Washington provide 378 million hours of unpaid care, valued at $9.4 billion.
“There are people who can no longer hold a job, who can’t learn new things and who are struggling to care for themselves,” Khan says. “These studies give them the chance to participate in something that could not only help them but also help others in the future.”
Connect with the research team
Patients interested in participating in research studies exploring possible treatments can reach out to the center by phone or email to set up an initial evaluation. From there, the team determines eligibility for studies that can run anywhere from six months to several years.
“Our goal is to slow down or reduce the severity of illness and suffering for both patients and their families,” Khan says. “Alzheimer’s is terminal. People die from it, and the progression can be heartbreaking. Anything we can do can change a lot.”
The center works with a large team of medical staff and physicians who contract with pharmaceutical companies to test a variety of treatments, ranging from tablets and pills to injections. Each study aims to understand how different medications might affect brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related cognitive impairments.
“There aren’t many centers like this in the Northwest,” Khan says. “It’s important that people know they have options and can be part of developing future treatments.”
For more information or to see if you or a loved one is eligible for a clinical trial, visit nwcrc.net or call 425-453-0404.
