The Unit of Cognitive Disorders of Lleida and IRBLleida initiate two clinical trials to improve the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Lleida, September 21st, 2017 Research is one of the keys to the future to improve the prognosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. For this reason, the Unit of Cognitive Disorders of the Region of Lleida and the Group of Clinical Neurosciences of the Institute of Biomedical Research of Lleida (IRBLleida) have initiated during the last year a clinical trial, that will extend during the next three years , with a new drug aimed at trying to eliminate amyloid brain from the patients, at the initial stages of the disease. Amyloid is a substance that progressively damages neurons and, in particular, those involved in intellectual functions. For its part, the Unit of Cognitive Disorders will also begin experimentation with a vaccine for the disease during the next weeks, aimed at eliminating this substance from the brain of the patients. Today, September 21, commemorates World Alzheimer's Day, declared by the World Health Organization, this year with the motto "I'm still being I". This motto aims to raise awareness, once again, about the dignity of patients despite the cognitive impairment that may occur in advanced phases of the disease; but also on those patients in early or moderate stages, in which small modifications in their functionality can cause changes in the relationship with their family and environment, and generate situations of lack of understanding, nervousness and frustration, both on the part of the patients like the caregivers. Alzheimer's disease is neurodegenerative; that is, it causes a progressive loss of the recent memory to which the affectation of other cognitive functions is added during the evolution of the illness and, in some cases, alterations of the behavior. According to data from the Spanish Confederation of Family Associations for People with Alzheimer's and Other Dementias (CEAFA), this illness affects the daily lives of 4.5 million people in Spain (caregivers and relatives). Aging is one of the main risk factors; For this reason, with the increase in life expectancy, the number of people affected is expected to increase drastically and progressively in the coming decades. Photography: Clinical Neurosciencies Research Group