07 Jul UW Health recruiting volunteers for clinical trial of new Alzheimer’s drug

By Wyatt Bandt, WKOW

UW Health is recruiting volunteers for a clinical trial to test a new Alzheimer’s drug recently approved by the FDA.

The study will test the effectiveness of the drug lecanemab — also known as Leqembi — which targets and removes plaque buildups in the brain that are markers of the disease.

The study is open to people age 55 and older who are at risk of developing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Risk factors include family history of the disease or being 65 years old or older.

Dr. Cindy Carlsson, director of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, says she hopes recruiting younger people who are at risk gives them a way to get ahead of the disease. Read more …