AL001 for Semantic Dementia
This study is evaluating whether a drug may help treat frontotemporal dementia.
See full descriptionAbout the trial for Semantic Dementia
Treatment Groups
This trial involves 3 different treatments. AL001 is the primary treatment being studied. Participants will be divided into 2 treatment groups. Some patients will receive a placebo treatment. The treatments being tested are in Phase 3 and have had some early promising results.
About The Treatment
Eligibility
This trial is for patients born any sex aged 18 and older. There are 4 eligibility criteria to participate in this trial as listed below.
Approximate Timelines
Measurement Requirements
This trial is evaluating whether AL001 will improve 1 primary outcome, 6 secondary outcomes, and 1 other outcome in patients with Semantic Dementia. Measurement will happen over the course of Baseline to 48 weeks.
Patient Q & A Section
What are the signs of semantic dementia?
The signs of semantic dementia appear to be progressive memory dysfunction leading to confusion with the dementia of Alzheimer's disease. These symptoms may be more severe than those of semantic dementia but have a similar temporal course.
How many people get semantic dementia a year in the United States?
SEMD is the most common form of dementia and an international epidemic. A number of prevention measures, including increased public awareness about the disease, as well as early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve the quality of life of patients with SEMD and in some cases, reduce their need for, and costs of, caregiving by family members and caregivers in the United States.
What are common treatments for semantic dementia?
The treatments for semantic dementia are diverse, but more common treatments are generally focused on improving the patient's cognitive functioning by providing sensory, physical, and psychosocial support. Other commonly used treatments include various pharmacological options such as cholinesterase inhibitors, dopamine agonists, and memantine, and non-pharmacological approaches. Because patients with semantic dementia may suffer from a variety of psychological concerns, treatments such as cognitive rehabilitation, psychodynamic counseling, and psychopharmacotherapy may be of value. While many potential treatments have been reported, more randomized control trials to evaluate the validity of these treatments are needed.
What is semantic dementia?
SSD is usually an insidious condition that takes several years to manifest itself. The initial phase of illness typically involves the loss of ability to make conversation, though patients with SSD may be able to maintain ordinary conversations. The secondary phase of illness, typically seen after the onset of dementia, is the overwhelming feature, typically involving loss of ability to recognize one's family; loss of speech; and eventually loss of ability to communicate in any form.\n
What causes semantic dementia?
There are several brain lesions and brain lesions are frequently found in patients with semantic dementia. The damage to the anterior choroidal artery and the anterior perforating artery and to the central grey matter of the temporal and parietal lobules are often found.
Can semantic dementia be cured?
This case illustrates that SD with a history of psychosis may not always be intractable and should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with a prodromal diagnosis of SD.
Is al001 typically used in combination with any other treatments?
No combination therapies are particularly preferred, although patients who had been to a specialist rehabilitation facility were significantly more comfortable with some treatments (pain medication, home care) used in combination.
Does semantic dementia run in families?
Semantic dementia is a highly heritable disease in which several forms of inheritance appear to coexist. The penetrance of semantic dementia in kindreds is not as extreme as that reported from case–control studies but is still higher than that for other dementias. The frequency of familial semantic dementia is 5.6% on average although it probably results from as high as 18% with mild or late-onset semantic dementia, and 13% if both relatives are affected. The prevalence of familial semantic dementia is slightly higher than previously estimated.
Does al001 improve quality of life for those with semantic dementia?
As a novel agent, al001 has the potential to improve many facets of quality of life in persons with semantic dementia. Furthermore, data for al001 are available from the largest clinical trial conducted for this disease to date.
Is al001 safe for people?
This al001 trial was well reported and used standard clinical trial research methodology, so participants were able to make informed decisions about participating in it, and professionals were able to evaluate the findings and translate them into healthcare practice. These standards made participants feel like the study was in their interest.
What is the average age someone gets semantic dementia?
There is an age at which semantics are affected in semantic dementia, and this is lower than the previous estimate, suggesting that there is more variation in the condition than previously considered.
Has al001 proven to be more effective than a placebo?
The drug al001, which was used in a study in which patients with semantic dementia underwent a single intrathecal administration to assess the therapeutic potential of al001, did not exert a positive effect on cognition.