The AHEAD Study

Study Overview

The AHEAD Study is an exciting, new development in Alzheimer's disease research. The AHEAD Study tests whether an investigational treatment slows the earliest brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease. Brain changes related to Alzheimer's disease can begin up to 20 years before a person exhibits symptoms.

Enrollment is now closed.

Research Specifics

The AHEAD Study is testing whether an investigational drug can lower the amount of amyloid in the brain and how that impacts a decline in memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers have learned that changes in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease start as many as 20 years before symptoms such as memory problems begin. During these two decades, a protein called “amyloid” builds up in the brains of people who eventually develop Alzheimer's disease memory problems. While not all people with amyloid in their brain will develop memory and other problems with thinking, multiple research studies have now shown that people with elevated levels of brain amyloid are at higher risk to develop memory problems. In clinical trials, researchers use imaging tests to track brain amyloid levels.

Discovering a treatment that targets these changes early means we may be able to some day prevent memory loss. 

Study Specifics

The AHEAD Study is breaking new ground in the field of Alzheimer's research. The AHEAD Study seeks cognitively normal adults ages 55-80 who may be at increased risk of memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease. This is the first Alzheimer disease prevention trial to enroll people as young as 55 years old.

Some participants will take part in the first "pre-preclinical Alzheimer's disease” trial, representing a big step forward in Alzheimer's disease research.

What is all required?

The AHEAD Study is comprised of two different trials testing the same investigational drug (known as BAN2401). Study participants are enrolled in one of two AHEAD trials based on whether they have intermediate or elevated levels of amyloid in their brain:

Over the course of the study, the two different trial groups will receive intravenous (IV) infusions of BAN2401 or a placebo, an inactive substance designed to mimic the appearance of the drug. The infusion process takes approximately 60 minutes.