‘Completely novel’: Alzheimer’s disease therapy study underway in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A clinical trial funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) is underway in Music City where researchers are testing whether a vitamin can help treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD.)

Middle Tennessee’s KCA Neurology is one of about 50 sites nationwide participating in the BenfoTeam study. It’s named after benfotiamine, a lab-made, therapeutic dose of Thiamine (vitamin B1.)

According to NIH, oral benfotiamine is safe and potentially efficacious in improving cognitive outcomes among people with mild cognitive impairment and mild AD.

Dr. Gretchen Campbell, a neurologist and clinical research principal investigator at KCA Neurology, said recent research suggests benfotiamine could protect brain cells from damage, potentially slowing the course of dementia. She referred to this treatment approach as “completely novel.”

“The vitamin is unique in that it helps glucose metabolism, and the brain is a glucose hog,” Campbell said. “It uses more glucose than the rest of the body, so when that becomes impaired, there are lots of downstream impacts for that. The other thing that it does is it reduces the oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can also cause inflammatory products to develop, and that causes neurodegeneration downstream.”

A 2024 report by the Alzheimer’s Association reveals that nearly 7 million Americans currently live with AD. The nonprofit said by 2050, that number is projected to rise to around 13 million.

“If anyone is affected by AD, like I have been and lots of other families out there,, it doesn’t take much to convince people we need treatment,” Campbell said.

Currently, there is no cure for AD, but Campbell feels this innovative therapy method is a big step in the right direction for finding a solution.

“We’re very early in developing treatments that get to the root problem of the process, and we just aren’t there yet,” Campbell said. “We have a couple of infusions that are on the market that work in a different way. They’re good for some people, but they’re not good for all people. Something like a vitamin could be widely available to most people. We need research to get cures. That’s the only way we get there.”

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

Diagnosis of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease

Age between 50 and 85 years

Stable on Alzheimer’s disease medications for at least three months

Have a caregiver or family member available to accompany the participant to all study visits

Exclusion Criteria:

Diagnosis of other neurodegenerative diseases

History of significant cardiovascular, liver, or kidney diseases

Current participation in another clinical trial

Known allergy to benfotiamine or related compounds

For information about the clinical trial and locations of study sites, visit BenfoTeam’s website. You can also go to KCA Neurology’s website or call the clinic at 615-550-1800.