Spotlight on Clinical Trials
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The clinical trials below are among the many NCCAM-sponsored trials that were recruiting, or planning to start recruitment soon, at press time. To see others, go to nccam.nih.gov/clinicaltrials/alltrials.htm. Readers who do not have access to the Internet can inquire with the NCCAM Clearinghouse.
A Novel Approach to Treating Alzheimer's
Having diabetes or insulin resistance (a condition that can be linked to diabetes) can significantly raise a person's risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), recent evidence suggests. Thus, there is scientific interest in manipulating the regulation of insulin and glucose in the brain as a possible treatment approach for AD.
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A new oral compound, NIC5-15, is made from a sugar complex found naturally in certain foods such as soybean, carob, and alfalfa, and in pine tree bark and pine cones. In human studies, NIC5-15 has appeared to act as an antidiabetic with mild insulin-sensitizing effects. In preclinical research, it has been shown to interfere with a key step in the development of AD, accumulation of beta amyloid in the brain. This preliminary study is testing its safety and effectiveness as a potential AD treatment. The study is sponsored by NCCAM, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, and Humanetics Corporation.
Principal investigator: Hillel Grossman, M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York
Soy Isoflavones for Vasomotor Symptoms in Menopause
Vasomotor symptoms—including hot flashes and night sweats—affect many women during the menopausal transition. CAM approaches are often used to help with these symptoms. One such approach is soy isoflavones, but studies so far have been inconclusive as to whether they work for this purpose. This randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study is investigating this question further in a group of menopausal women.
Principal investigator: Judith Ockene, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester
