Charlotte Sun Herald
By JASON WITZ
Staff Writer
PORT CHARLOTTE -- A local neurologist is taking part in a case study to treat the cause of Alzheimer's disease and, with any luck, develop a way to slow the deadly condition.
Dr. William Holt, along with hundreds of other medical experts across the nation, will administer an experimental medication to residents suffering from mild forms of the neurodegenerative disorder.
The study, known as the Investigational Clinical Amyloid Research in Alzheimer's, is designed to gauge the safety and effectiveness of the new treatment option.
Holt is excited about the potential.
"This represents a major step forward," said Holt, who operates Neurostudies Inc. in Port Charlotte. "In theory, this is the first treatment we believe attacks the cause of the disease."
The drug, Bapineuzumab, or "Bapi," is given to participants every three months over 65 weeks. The goal, doctors say, is to clear plaque from the neurons believed to be responsible for the disease.
Current medications for Alzheimer's are geared mainly at maximizing remaining brain activity.
"(These) medications are like a Band-Aid fix," Holt said.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder commonly found in the elderly.
In the United States alone, an estimated 5.3 million people suffer from the disorder, which is the most common form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
The study is being conducted at 200 sites across the U.S. and Canada, including 28 in Florida. Other nearby sites include Sarasota and Fort Myers.
Those participating are men and women between the ages of 50 to 88 who have a diagnosis of mild to moderate Alzheimer's.
Holt expects to see......read the whole story
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