Participants needed in new Alzheimer's study
The Institute of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow partnered with DS Scotland to research a drug's potential to reduce the chances of people with Down's syndrome getting Alzheimer's disease. Many people with Down's syndrome develop memory problems or dementia in middle age.
A medication called Simvastatin, which is used to treat other conditions, might reduce Alzheimer's disease as pervious studies have shown that people who did not have dementia were more likely to have taken Simvastatin than those who had dementia. The studies show that Simvastatin may slow the amyloid β build up in the brain, which is thought to cause Alzheimer's disease.
The University of Glasgow will soon be inviting everyone with Down's syndrome who fits the requirements to take part in the study.Participants must be:
- over 50 years old by 2012 and
- live in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lothian or Tayside region
If the person with Down's syndrome agrees to take part, a research assistant will visit the person at home. The assistant will ask some questions about health and will ask for a blood test or a thumb pin-prick sample and saliva sample. Each participant will be put in one of two groups. For the next year, one group will take a Simvastatin capsule every night and the other group will take a placebo capsule.
Between six and 12 weeks after starting, the research assistant will visit each participant to make sure there are no side effects. She will also ring or visit after three, six and nine months to check there are no side effects. After a year, the research assistant will visit to ask about the participant's health and will request an optional blood test. After the year, differences between the two groups will be compiled.
All information will be confidential and only the research team and the participant's GP will know who took part in the study.
Simvastatin is currently used to prevent heart attacks and strokes and most people do not have side effects. The most common side effect is muscle pain or weakness in about 1 in every 100 people.
Every participant will be given £50 of shopping vouchers for their time.
For an informal chat or to ask to be visited please contact Sally-Ann Cooper, Professor of Learning Disabilities at the University of Glasgow on 0141 211 0690 or Sally-Ann.Cooper@glasgow.ac.uk.
