Alzheimers Clinical Trial Hope: Ron and Cheryl Hogrefe

After losing two loved ones to the disease, Cheryl Hogrefe received her own Alzheimer’s diagnosis within the very same year as her mother’s passing. Cheryl was diagnosed on December 4, 2016, which is when her husband (Ron) knew it was time to put all those years of watching Cheryl serve as a full-time, primary caregiver, to use. It was his turn to step up. For the next 6 years, Ron watched as Cheryl’s cognitive abilities slowly decreased from a normal score of 26 to score of 15 (moderate cognitive impairment) by spring of 2022. Relentless to change Cheryl’s fate, the couple vetted several clinical trial options in hopes for new treatment only to be rejected time and time again due to falling just outside qualification criteria. But just hours after their final rejection came their first sign of hope – a clinical trial opportunity that could offer Cheryl a fighting chance. On May 4, 2022, the papers were signed for Cheryl to participate in the TB006 Phase II clinical trial, beginning the infusions within a week’s time. By the time of her next cognitive assessment on August 5th, Cheryl and Ron would learn that her previously consistent decline had stopped dead in its tracks. By February 2, 2023, just 9 months after beginning infusions, her cognitive assessment score has begun to show signs of increasing. While it’s a clinical trial with long-term outcomes to yet be determined, it’s bringing much hope to Cheryl and Ron.