Research and clinical trials test medications and behavioral interventions to see if they are safe and effective for people of various ages. Research and clinical registries help match volunteers with studies that might be right for them

Important: Before participating in any type of research project, know your rights for full discloser of all the aspects of participation. Be sure to perform your 'due diligence' ensuring that reasonable precautions are taken to minimize any associated risk.  

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

As a leader in aging research, the NIA is just one of 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, making a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging. One of its primary focus is to extend the healthy, active years of life. 
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​For specific information on clinical research and the elderly, see the following website:
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/clinical-trials-and-older-people
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​This particular document addresses the following questions:
What is a clinical trial?
Why would I participate in a clinical trial?
Why do clinical trials need older and diverse participants?
What are the benefits and risks of a clinical trial?
If I choose to take part in a clinical trial, how will my safety be protected?
What questions should I ask before deciding if I want to take part in a clinical trial?
Where can I find a clinical trial?
What is the next step after I find a clinical trial?
What are some helpful words to know?
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Know and Protect Your Rights
​as a Research Participant

Institutional review boards (IRBs) help provide scientific oversight for clinical trials. An IRB is an independent committee created by the institution that sponsors a clinical trial. IRB members are doctors, statisticians, and community members.
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/studies/clinicaltrials/protect
http://www.apa.org/research/responsible/human/

​Additional Resources:
NIH Bioethics Resources: www.nih.gov/sigs/bioethics/index.html.
The Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) Office of Research Integrity Web: www.ori.hhs.gov.
DHHS Office of Human Research Protections: http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov.
Belmont Report on protecting human subjects: http://ohrp.osophs.dhhs.gov/humansubjects/guidance/belmont.htm.
Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs: www.aahrpp.org.

The Rick Hansen Institute recommends the following website:
​It Starts With Me is a website about clinical trials that was developed by patients and caregivers who have participated in a clinical trial or have had a loved one participate in a clinical trial and by people who work in clinical trials and research. The website tells you everything you need to know about clinical trials, things to think about or ask before you decide to participate, your rights as a person who is volunteering in a clinical trial, and has a glossary of terms for you. For more information, visit http://itstartswithme.ca/. 

National Institute of Health (NIH)

As a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), ClinicalTrials.gov is a registry and results database of publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants conducted around the world. https://clinicaltrials.gov/

​The NIH also has extensive educational resources and information which includes finding clinical trials, a list of registries, and the personal stories of some research participants. For more information, see the following websites:
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https://www.nih.gov/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you/list-registries 
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https://www.nih.gov/health-information/nih-clinical-research-trials-you/personal-stories

​http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4640010/
This article notes, historically, elderly patients are poorly represented in clinical trials even though it is the elderly who represent the majority of patients for many of the medications that are used to treating chronic conditions. Worldwide, it is the aged who make up most of the patients for cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, dementia, and Parkinson's disease.

Pharma Clinical Trials
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Keynote Clinical Trials is run by Merck Oncology Clinical Trials. The focus is on immunotherapy as an approach that may help the body’s immune system fight cancer. http://keynoteclinicaltrials.com/

Pfizer offers a search by medical problem, keyword, or just by search for available trials near you. http://www.pfizer.com/research/clinical_trials/find_a_trial

Eli Lilly and Company conducts research to help determine safety and efficacy of various test medications; and conducts research with the intent of learning more about treatment options, disease states, diagnostics, and other associated issues that contribute to the health and well being of patients. This research often occurs in the form of clinical trials and observational / non-interventional studies. http://www.lillytrials.com/

​You can Google names of most pharmaceutical companies and check their websites for clinical trials.

For current news and views on the clinical trials industry see the following website: http://www.centerwatch.com/news-online/

​Clinical Connection connects willing participants with research trials; notifying you when new clinical trials are available. https://clinicalconnection.com/Default.aspx

 NIA - NIH Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Clinical Trial Referral 

The National Institute on Aging at the NIH has an Alzheimer’s disease education and referral center. Click on the study opportunities below for details, including contact information. 
​Drugs

• A4: Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer’s Disease (multiple sites)
• Connect: AZD0530 in Mild Alzheimer's Disease  (multiple sites)
• SNIFF: Study of Nasal Insulin to Fight Forgetfulness  (multiple sites)

 
Brain Imaging

• Tau PET Imaging in the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (St. Louis, MO)

 
Other Dementias

• HEADWAY-DLB: RVT-101 for Dementia with Lewy Bodies (multiple sites)
• LEFFTDS: Longitudinal Evaluation of Familial Frontotemporal Dementia (multiple sites)
• Natural History of Amyloid Deposition in Adults with Down Syndrome (Pittsburgh, PA, and Madison, WI)

 
Registries

• Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry (nationwide)—get information and updates about participating in future Alzheimer’s prevention trials.
• Brain Health Registry (nationwide)—sign up for an online study of brain health and learn about possible research-study opportunities.
• GeneMatch (nationwide)—enroll to get matched to Alzheimer’s genetics studies

 
Get more information about these and other Alzheimer’s clinical trials. Or, call the ADEAR Center at 1-800-438-4380 (toll-free) or email [email protected].

Links to Other Information About Clinical Trials

• NHLBI Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov
• NIH Clinical Research Trials and You (National Institutes of Health)
• ResearchMatch(link is external) (funded by the National Institutes of Health)

DISCLAIMER: This information and list of suggested sites is not a recommendation nor endorsement of any organization, entity, or types of research.