Press Release
Everyone knows that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with memory loss, but did you know in more than half of patients, it also causes persistent and inexplicable agitation resulting in behavior changes that may seem out of character or extreme? Agitation is a common symptom that is not widely discussed but can cause significant strain, worry, and stress on people suffering from AD and their caregivers.
A study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine and sponsored by the National Institute on Aging is taking place in your local community at Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center to find better treatments for this aspect of Alzheimer's.
Agitation can include excessive motor activity (such as pacing and aimless wandering), verbal aggression (such as cursing, shouting, and yelling), and/or physical aggression (such as hitting, shoving, and slamming doors).
By participating in the study patients can gain access to a potential treatment before it is widely available, an FDA-approved anti-depressant medicine, and receive high-quality medical care completely free of cost, including psychosocial counseling for patients and their caregivers to aid them in dealing with practical problems and the deep emotional toll of AD.
You can also learn more about the trial at ADtrial.org
