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Three new studies give clear guidance on how to better recruit volunteers for Alzheimer's Clinical Studies

Partnering with local physicians, working with local clinics, and conducting educational seminars and health fairs were found to be the most effective tools in recruiting people for Alzheimer's clinical studies, according to new research reported today at the Alzheimer's Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD 2009) in Vienna.

Surprisingly, patient registries and Internet recruiting were found to be much less successful recruitment strategies, according to staff at the U.S. Alzheimer's Disease Centers (ADCs). The National Institute on Aging (NIA) funds 30 ADCs at major medical institutions across the nation.

"Second only to inadequate funding, recruiting participants for clinical studies is the single greatest barrier to developing better treatments for Alzheimer's disease," according to William Thies, PhD, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer at the Alzheimer's Association.

"These studies give us clear information - from people who are conducting large scale clinical trials now - on how we may recruit participants better and faster in the future."

In another study looking specifically at recruiting African Americans for Alzheimer's genetics studies, researchers found that having a relative with the disease, use of minority study personnel, and monetary compensation were the most powerful incentives for participation in research.

The 2009 Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD 2009) brings together more than 3,000 researchers from 70 countries to share groundbreaking research and information on the cause, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

ICAD 2009 was held in Vienna, Austria at Messe Wien Exhibition and Congress Center from July 11-16.

The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit www.alz.org.