Researchers at The Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health San Antonio are recruiting participants for the VIVA-MIND study to learn whether a new drug therapy for Alzheimer’s disease can help people experiencing mild memory problems.
Volunteers ages 50 to 89 with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or probable mild Alzheimer’s may ask about eligibility for VIVA-MIND, said Dr. Sudha Seshadri, professor of neurology and director of the Glenn Biggs Institute.
Half of volunteers will be given the new drug therapy, an oral pill called varoglutamstat. The other half will receive a placebo pill that looks just like the study drug.
“The first people who will benefit from a new Alzheimer’s disease treatment are those who are in clinical trials,” Seshadri said.
Individuals interested in learning more about eligibility for the VIVA-MIND study can contact Floyd Jones, research coordinator-senior with the Biggs Institute at UT Health San Antonio, at 210-450-3158 or [email protected].
What is the VIVA-MIND Study?
Seshadri explained how the new oral drug therapy works.
“Varoglutamstat deals with a particularly toxic form of the protein amyloid and the neuro-inflammatory response it induces,” she said.
The drug doesn’t remove amyloid deposits from the brain but prevents formation of a toxic precursor of amyloid.
The study has a strong scientific basis, with the idea to intervene in the disease process early.
VIVA-MIND requires up to 20 months of participation, including seven to 12 visits to the clinic.
Memory and thinking tests, heart rhythm tests, physical exams, electrical brain activity tests, brain imaging using MRI, and blood and cerebrospinal fluid tests will be repeated at points.
Volunteers must already be on Alzheimer’s medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for at least four months before screening and must be living in the community rather than with skilled nursing care.
Individuals interested in learning more about eligibility for the VIVA-MIND study can contact Floyd Jones, research coordinator-senior with the Biggs Institute at UT Health San Antonio, at 210-450-3158 or [email protected].
Why Is Diverse Participation Important for VIVA-MIND?
Diversity is needed “because Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t look the same in different groups,” Seshadri said.
South Texas is home to a majority Latino population, a group of people who are 50% more likely to develop dementia than non-Hispanic whites.
The Biggs Institute, in collaboration with UT Rio Grande Valley, is Texas’ only National Institute on Aging-designated Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC). The South Texas ADRC, which has a Latino focus, is positioned and has the expertise to be a significant center of enrollment of Mexican Americans into clinical trials, Seshadri said.
“Our goal is to increase participation in clinical trials by diverse groups of people who want to take a more active role in their health care, receive expert care at our ADRC and others across the nation, and benefit society by providing hope for patients with these diseases,” Seshadri said.
Individuals interested in learning more about eligibility for the VIVA-MIND study can contact Floyd Jones, research coordinator-senior with the Biggs Institute at UT Health San Antonio, at 210-450-3158 or [email protected].
Latinos and Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia disproportionally impacts Latinos.
In fact, the Alzheimer’s Association reports that about 13% of Latinos aged 65 or older have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Latinos overall are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than their White peers.
Further, Latinos may not get the care they need if diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
One-third of Latinos (33%) report that they have experienced discrimination when seeking health care, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
This further highlights the need not only for Latino representation in the healthcare system, but also the need for Latino participation in clinical trials.
With Just over half (51%) say they are reluctant to engage in clinical trials because they don’t want to be “guinea pigs,” as reported by the Alzheimer’s Association.
Join a Clinical Trial Today
We know dementia hurts many of our abuelos, moms, dads, and others we love.
Participating in clinical trials is one way to help our loved ones with dementia.
Clinical trials are studies with volunteers that help researchers learn more to help slow, manage, and treat Alzheimer’s and dementia for current and future family members.
“Latinos in clinical trials are not only helping themselves, but they’re also building a future with better treatments that can help their families in the future,” said Dr. Amelie Ramirez, director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research and Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio.
Dr. Ramirez, thanks to a grant from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, is raising awareness of clinical trials by using Salud America! to host webinars, showcase open clinical trials, and uplift the stories of Latino clinical trial participants.
Visit our clinical trials page to find a clinical trial, read about heroes who have volunteered for clinical trials, and more!
For example, you can play memory and thinking tests and help millions of families with dementia by joining the Brain Health Registry!
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