According to the Alzheimer's Association there are at least 580,000 people aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer's in Florida. Nationwide, it's estimated approximately 1 in 9 people aged 65 and older have been diagnosed — that translates to more than 7-million people and that number is only going to grow as our population ages.
We learn about a nationwide clinical trial, funded by the National Institute of Aging, that's trying to determine if high doses of a synthetic form of Vitamin B1 called benfotiamine might be an effective treatment for mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's Disease. Also known as thiamine, Vitamin B1 is important for brain health, and it's known that people with Alzheimer's have a thiamine deficiency.
To learn more about the trial, and how it works and who can participate, we spoke with a local doctor who is helping to conduct the nationwide trial, as well as a trial participant and her husband and caregiver.
Click here to learn more about the Neuropsychiatric Research Center of Southwest Florida and here to jump straight to information about the BenfoTeam Trial.
Guests:
Dr. John Huffaker, Principal Investigator at the Neuropsychiatric Research Center of Southwest Florida
Carole Starks is an Alzheimer’s patient who is taking part in the BenfoTeam study
Hank Starks is Carole's husband and caregiver
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