Las Vegans who have no symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, but do have a family history of the disease, are being courted by the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. The center is one of 50 sites joining in the first U.S. clinicaltrial of a drug that's intended to prevent the onset of the disease, which robs a person of memory, clear thinking, speech and personality. According to Dr. Kate Zhong, the new trial -- called "Tomorrow" -- is recruiting asymptomatic individuals between the ages of 65 and 83.
Other clinical trials at the Ruvo center have targeted patients who are already showing symptoms.
Over the last decade, Alzheimer's research has moved its focus from advanced disease to moderate disease to, now, the healthy state before disease, Zhong says.
Dr. Kate Zhong, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health