Charleston doctor: New Alzheimer's study could change future

By Victoria Hansenvkhansen@sbgtv.comCharleston, S.C. (WCIV) -- It's being called a "game changer" in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and it's being done right here in the Lowcountry."If this study is successful we're looking at a different future," said Dr. Jacobo Mintzer, director of the Roper St. Francis Clinical Biotechnology Research Institute.It's called the A-4 study and doctors in 60 sites across America, Canada and Australia are looking for volunteers -- {}including Roper Saint Francis Hospital in Charleston."It changes the game from a situation in which we waited for the disease to appear and then tried to fight it, to a future where you may have the lesions in your brain but you will never see the disease," said Dr. Mintzer.{}The lesions Dr. Mintzer are referring to, are Amyloids. He says they've long {}been used to diagnose Alzheimer's in patients after they die. But they've been hard to see in the living until recently. He says their detection, and a new experimental drug that promises to destroy them, could make all the difference."We started to learn that the lesions may appear in the brain up to 15 years before the first symptom will appear," said Dr. Mintzer."Then we said wow, we have a huge opportunity. We now have a 15 year window that we can use to treat the patient and the disease will never appear."Barbara Franklin lost her father to the disease long before he died."When my dad referred to me once as the person who drove him around not even recognizing me as his daughter, there's no doubt that I was gone from his life."Franklin volunteered for the A-4 study. The 67 year-old has a family history of Alzheimer's disease, but no symptoms. {}She's exactly what doctors are looking for."If there had been a way that we could have turned the clock back for my dad and made him the person that he was, that would have made all the difference," said Franklin.She underwent the scan three weeks ago to determine if she had the lesions or the amyloids.{}If she had them, Barbara would be able to take part in the study -- but it also meant she had an increased risk for Alzheimer's. If she didn't have them, the risk is less but she can't take part."I want to take it as far as I can and help myself of course for my own planning, but to help future generations," said Franklin.If she qualified, Franklin would receive either the experimental drug or a placebo and be carefully monitored for several years.But three weeks later, Franklin found out she does not have amyloids. She's both relieved and disappointed. She says she'll look for another study in memory of her father."It's just a bit surprising," she said. "I came here today with the expectation I could be a soldier in the fight."Roper Saint Francis is still looking for volunteers between 65 and 85 years old. {}You have to have normal thinking and memory function, but are at risk for the disease.If you are interested, call (843) 724-2302.