Clinical trials help ensure that the public gets safe and effective medicines and treatments. In a typical trial, a new drug or treatment method undergoes intensive investigation and a series of tests to determine its efficacy and possible side effects. Without the data gathered from clinical trials, there's no telling what fatal risks patients may encounter when taking a new or supposedly “improved” version of a drug.
At present, clinical trials for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients are far from achieving a satisfactory participation rate. Since the last decade, the percentage of AD patients volunteering for clinical trials has stayed at one percent or even lower. With a serious decline in number of volunteers, clinical trials may not be able to move on, and the accuracy of results can be seriously affected.
Scientists attribute this downward trend to patients' aversion to the risks involved, as well as lack of confidence in the possible benefits. If this continues, new medicines and treatments, no matter how effective they may be, may never get approved for distribution and use. Researchers thus need more accurate data from a bigger number of volunteers, beyond what pilot studies can provide.
Perhaps the best way to address this dilemma is to promote awareness about the importance of clinical trials in the discovery and development of new treatments for AD. Conversely, scientists must also identify other factors that cause the patients' reluctance. Otherwise, any future research may suffer from low turnouts and reduced sponsorship.
At present, clinical trials for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients are far from achieving a satisfactory participation rate. Since the last decade, the percentage of AD patients volunteering for clinical trials has stayed at one percent or even lower. With a serious decline in number of volunteers, clinical trials may not be able to move on, and the accuracy of results can be seriously affected.
Scientists attribute this downward trend to patients' aversion to the risks involved, as well as lack of confidence in the possible benefits. If this continues, new medicines and treatments, no matter how effective they may be, may never get approved for distribution and use. Researchers thus need more accurate data from a bigger number of volunteers, beyond what pilot studies can provide.
Perhaps the best way to address this dilemma is to promote awareness about the importance of clinical trials in the discovery and development of new treatments for AD. Conversely, scientists must also identify other factors that cause the patients' reluctance. Otherwise, any future research may suffer from low turnouts and reduced sponsorship.
