There's new hope in the fight against Alzheimer's Disease, and researchers in London are looking for more people to join the battle.
Officials at the Parkwood Institute in London say the first Canadian patient is taking part in a clinical trial that is testing a treatment that could stop the progression of Alzheimer's.
They are now asking more people to join the study.
The researchers are testing a treatment that could prevent memory loss by clearing the brain of a protein called amyloid.
It builds up before the symptoms of Alzheimer's appear.
"We hope that by treating the amyloid early, we can change the outcome," says Dr. Michael Borrie, a geriatrician at Parkwood Institute and scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute. "But we need research participants to help us in the fight against Alzheimer's."
Researchers are looking for people between 65 and 85 who have no symptoms of Alzheimers, but have a strong family history of the disease.
One of the people who fit the criteria is Danny DePrest, a 66-year-old realtor.
"I was becoming frustrated with my forgetfulness, so I jumped at the chance to join the study and find out if AD (Alzheimer's Disease) was at the root of my problems," says DePrest. "This is a double-blind study, so I don't know whether I'm taking the drugs or a placebo. But even if I'm taking a placebo I know by participating in this study I'm help others avoind AD."
The study is taking place at 60 sites in Canada, the US, and Australia.
It's expected 10,000 people will have to be screened to find 1,000 eligible participants.
