Commentary on "Developing a national strategy to prevent dementia: Leon Thal Symposium 2009." The rationale for a National Institutional Review Board for neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

The published proceedings of the second Annual Leon Thal Symposium (Alzheimers Dement 2009;5:85-92) have added to the open discussion among leaders in this field, with respect to the development of a national strategy for accelerating the discovery of preventative interventions for Alzheimer's disease. One of the recommended "action steps" detailed in that report centers on the establishment of a National Institutional Review Board for neurodegenerative diseases. The purpose of this new ethical oversight panel would be to increase the efficiency with which large-scale multi-site trials are conducted. This essay expands on this recommendation, and two potential organizational models are briefly considered. A well-designed, highly-qualified, and responsive National Institutional Review Board for neurodegenerative diseases would serve the direct interest of protecting the rights, welfare, and safety of our older citizens, who so generously contribute their time, energy, and comfort to advance research to discover new treatments for this devastating disease.