For that goal, researchers at the Ohio State University Medical Center have started a study looking into the effects of a vaccine that may slow the onset of the disease, HealthNewsDigest.com reports.
The 18-month, multi-center study consists of male and female participants ranging in age from 50 to 89, all of whom have been diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer's, according to the article.
The patients will be given a drug called bapineuzumab, which is designed to remove the protein beta-amyloid.
Past studies have indicated the protein accumulates in the brain of Alzheimer's patients and may possibly be a cause of the disease.
"The early results from animal studies have been very promising, and we are now looking to see if we achieve the same outcomes with our patients," Dr Douglas Sharre, neurologist at the medical center, told the news provider.
An estimated 5.2 million people in the U.S. are currently living with Alzheimer's disease. By 2030, it's estimated the number of individuals aged 65 and older with the disease will reach 7.7 million.
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