The start of a new era of Alzheimer’s treatment
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the main cause and most common form of dementia, which affects around 50 million people worldwide. The neurodegenerative illness can progress slowly or abruptly and usually strikes older adults, but people in their 30s and 40s can also suffer from an early onset until they eventually lose their memory, ability to think, and recognition of those closest to them.
There is no known cure for Alzheimers, and the number of patients needing care far exceeds the capacity of healthcare systems. A recent study found that more than 70% of the intangible costs and socioeconomic risks are borne by the patient’s family and friends, putting a strain on their quality of lives.
Today, AD diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms, such as cognitive testing assisted with MRI, CT, and PET scans. Still, around 1 in 4 diagnoses are inaccurate, meaning that families may be falsely told their loved ones have the disease when they really don’t, or people who have the disease are mistakenly diagnosed as AD-free.
Current treatments aim to improve problems with thinking and reasoning, as well as memory loss, but there is no known cure. They include memantine and cholinesterase inhibitors, which help chemicals in the brain carry information from cell to cell. However, these medicines cannot stop the decline and death of brain cells, and the disease continues to progress. New treatment methods are slow to emerge, although there are several promising leads.
Amyloid plaques, or clumps of the protein beta-amyloid found in the tissue between nerve cells, is an abnormality characteristic of Alzheimer’s. Researchers are uncertain whether plaques are harmful to the brain or simply a result of the disease, but it has been proven that plaques increase in amount as AD progresses. Monoclonal antibodies, which are similar to antibodies generated by the immune system, may help prevent new plaque formation and remove existing ones from the brain. In 2023, the FDA approved lecanemab for moderate Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. A phase 3 clinical research discovered that lecanemab delayed cognitive deterioration in patients with early Alzheimer's disease. The medicine is administered intravenously every two weeks and may produce fever, flu-like symptoms, nausea, vomiting, disorientation, changes in heart rate, and shortness of breath. Therefore, the FDA recommended brain MRIs before beginning medication, as well as for patients who have a certain gene, APOE e4, or are using blood thinners. More studies are being conducted on the possible dangers and efficacy of lecanemab and other therapies.
Alzheimer's Disease remains a formidable challenge, impacting millions of individuals and their families worldwide. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, the search for a cure continues. The emotional and socioeconomic burdens on caregivers underscore the urgent need for further research, innovative therapies, and enhanced support systems. As the scientific community strives to unravel the complexities of Alzheimer's, there is hope of a breakthrough that will one day offer respite to those affected.
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