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From Treatment to Prevention: The Memory Clinic’s Innovative Approach to Alzheimer’s

The Memory Clinic located at 357 Shields Dr, Bennington, VT. Photo provided.

The Memory Clinic is an award-winning, nationally recognized diagnostic and treatment center with 35 years of clinical research experience. Located in Bennington, VT, the clinic serves a broad region, welcoming patients from New York, Western Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Many of the clinic’s clinicians are distinguished fellows in their fields and have received awards for research. Treatment at The Memory Clinic is a multifaceted, interactive process in a comfortable, relaxed setting where patients and families meet with a multidisciplinary team, including psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, a neurology-specialized nurse practitioner, and patient care coordinators—alongside clinic dogs that add to the welcoming environment.

Without needing to travel to urban centers, patients and families have access to over 200 clinical research programs in Vermont. Recent studies aim to discover medications that could slow or halt Alzheimer’s disease progression. The Memory Clinic currently offers participation in a second clinical trial focused on Alzheimer’s prevention. Dr. Courtnay Wilson, a neuropsychologist and Sub-Investigator, notes, “This type of clinical trial is groundbreaking, providing a possible intervention that could end Alzheimer’s disease for future generations. These trials have the potential to make history and improve quality of life for aging adults. I am thrilled that The Memory Clinic is part of this effort, giving Vermonters a chance to join such cutting-edge research.”

The ReTain Study is evaluating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of an investigational medication in slowing Alzheimer’s symptoms for those at risk. To participate in this trial, applicants must be between 55 and 75 years old, with normal memory, mood, thinking, and behavior, and have a reliable study partner over 18 who can attend some visits.

Dr. Lisa Catapano-Friedman, Principal Investigator and Medical Director of The Memory Clinic, states, “This clinical trial is pioneering a shift from treating Alzheimer’s to trying to prevent it. Personally, we can all appreciate what it would mean to live without fear of developing Alzheimer’s ourselves or seeing it impact our loved ones. Economically, prevention could significantly reduce healthcare costs. In the U.S., caring for Alzheimer’s patients currently costs about $321 billion annually, and the number of affected individuals is expected to more than double in 30 years. This does not account for the emotional stress and life changes family caregivers face. Preventing Alzheimer’s would be a monumental achievement, and, as Dr. Wilson mentioned, it is incredibly exciting to contribute to this goal.”

Dr. Lisa Catapano-Friedman, Principal Investigator and Medical Director of The Memory Clinic in Bennington, VT. Photo provided.
Dr. Cynthia Murphy, PsyD, MBA
Executive Director of The Memory Clinic in Bennington, VT. Photo provided.

Those interested in participating in this trial can contact Clinical Research Coordinator Olivia Casey-Moore, BA, at olivia@memorydoc.org. For more information on The Memory Clinic, visit www.memorydoc.org or the clinic’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/Memorydoc.

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