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Educational tool only. Does not confirm eligibility or provide medical advice. Always consult your physician before pursuing any trial.

NeurologyICD-10: G30

Find Recruiting Clinical Trials for Alzheimer's Disease

Search disease-modifying, biomarker, and caregiver-assisted Alzheimer's trials — matched to disease stage and amyloid status.

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About Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60–80% of cases. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, leading to synaptic dysfunction and neuronal death. Symptoms progress from mild memory impairment and cognitive changes to severe loss of function and independence. The disease is staged as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) due to AD, early-stage, moderate, and late-stage Alzheimer's — each representing a distinct phase with different treatment targets. Current approved treatments include cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) and memantine, which manage symptoms but do not alter disease course. A pivotal new era began with the approval of lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab, the first disease-modifying anti-amyloid antibodies shown to slow cognitive decline in early AD — making trial participation especially relevant for patients in early stages.

What Types of Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trials Exist?

Alzheimer's clinical trials span multiple categories. Disease-modifying trials test anti-amyloid antibodies, anti-tau therapies, neuroinflammation modulators, and GLP-1 receptor agonists for neuroprotection. Biomarker studies use amyloid PET scans, CSF tau and phospho-tau measurements, and emerging plasma biomarkers (p-tau217, GFAP) to confirm AD pathology — many trials require amyloid-positive status. Prevention trials target cognitively normal individuals at genetic risk (APOE4 carriers, familial AD mutation carriers). MCI and early-stage trials are the most actively enrolling category given the disease-modifying drug landscape. Most trials require a study partner — a caregiver or family member who can accompany the participant and provide collateral history. MMSE and CDR scores are standard eligibility tools.

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Data from ClinicalTrials.gov · Updated in real time · Educational use only

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of Alzheimer's clinical trials are currently recruiting?▾
Recruiting Alzheimer's trials fall into several categories. Disease-modifying trials test agents targeting amyloid (anti-amyloid antibodies, BACE inhibitors, amyloid aggregation inhibitors), tau (anti-tau antibodies, tau aggregation inhibitors), neuroinflammation (TREM2 agonists, complement inhibitors), and metabolic pathways (GLP-1 agonists). Biomarker and observational studies enroll participants across the disease spectrum to track progression and validate diagnostic tools. Prevention trials (like the A4 Study or AHEAD Study) enroll cognitively normal older adults at elevated amyloid risk. Non-pharmacological trials test cognitive training, exercise, sleep interventions, and diet. Symptomatic trials test agents for agitation, depression, or sleep disturbance in Alzheimer's. The most active enrollment is currently in MCI and early AD disease-modifying trials, where the potential to slow progression is greatest.
Does my Alzheimer's stage affect which trials I can join?▾
Yes, significantly. Alzheimer's stage is one of the primary eligibility determinants. MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) due to Alzheimer's disease — the earliest symptomatic stage — is the target population for most disease-modifying trials, including anti-amyloid antibody trials similar to lecanemab and donanemab. Early-stage Alzheimer's (mild dementia) is also actively enrolled in many disease-modifying studies. Moderate and late-stage Alzheimer's patients are generally excluded from disease-modifying trials but may be eligible for symptomatic trials (agitation, psychosis, sleep), caregiver support studies, or non-pharmacological interventions. Stage is assessed using standardized tools: the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Most disease-modifying trials require an MMSE of 20–30 or a CDR of 0.5–1, corresponding to MCI or mild dementia.
Does amyloid status affect Alzheimer's trial eligibility?▾
Yes — for most disease-modifying trials, confirmed amyloid pathology is required for enrollment. Amyloid positivity can be confirmed via amyloid PET scan (florbetapir, florbetaben, flutemetamol) or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis measuring amyloid-beta 42, tau, and phospho-tau ratios. Emerging plasma biomarkers (p-tau217, p-tau181, amyloid ratio) are increasingly used in screening but may require confirmatory PET or CSF. The rationale is that disease-modifying therapies targeting amyloid should only be tested in patients who actually have amyloid pathology — a diagnosis of Alzheimer's based on symptoms alone is insufficient for these trials. Amyloid PET scans are typically provided at no cost to trial participants. APOE4 genetic status is also increasingly relevant — APOE4 carriers are at higher risk for ARIA (amyloid-related imaging abnormalities), a known side effect of anti-amyloid antibodies, and some trials dose-adjust or exclude APOE4 homozygotes.
Can a caregiver help enroll a loved one in an Alzheimer's trial?▾
Yes — in fact, a study partner (caregiver or close family member) is required for most Alzheimer's clinical trials, not just helpful. The study partner's role is to provide collateral history about the participant's cognitive and functional changes, accompany the participant to study visits, monitor for any changes between visits, and help ensure protocol adherence. The study partner must have regular contact with the participant (typically defined as ≥10 hours per week) and be willing to attend all or most study visits. This requirement exists because participants with cognitive impairment may not accurately report changes in their own condition. Caregivers should not be discouraged by this requirement — their involvement is valued and they often find the structured monitoring and expert access during trials beneficial. Some trials also offer caregiver-specific components, including education, support resources, and assessments of caregiver burden.

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Data source: All clinical trial information is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, the official U.S. registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine. Tidera Health is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with ClinicalTrials.gov or the National Library of Medicine. Always verify trial details directly with the research coordinator or your physician.