Making Medicinal Strides in the Cure for Alzheimer's
Alzheimer’s is a word that is known worldwide, but deeply felt by nearly 6 million Americans who suffer from this horrific disease. The number, 6 million, does not include the family members who are so deeply impacted by this disease. If you are an avid Grey’s Anatomy fan like I am, you know Meredith Grey is going to cure this one day 😉. In reality, the cure and preventative medicines are closer to being discovered than ever before.
Over the last few months there have been many articles on possibilities for new medications and breakthroughs in slowing or stopping Alzheimer’s, bringing much hope to the world for a potential cure, or at least more time with loved ones.
Lecanemab is one of the newest medications showing promise slowing the disease, but the drug comes with a risk. Lecanemab is a medicine that is said to remove clumps of the protein beta amyloid that builds up on the brain which is believed to be a culprit in Alzheimer’s disease. Clinical trials have reported that Lacanemab is the first new medicine that has shown to both reduce the disease in the brain as well as slow memory decline, giving a person with the disease more time.
A clinical trial was conducted among nearly 1,800 volunteers with early stage Alzheimer’s over an 18-month period. Half the participants would receive Lecanemab infusions while the other half were given a placebo. The participants who received Lecanemab had reduced markers of amyloid, which resulted in a cognitive decline. Although this new medicine shows promise, the clinical trial revealed certain side effects that warrant more trials and longer trial periods. Some of these side effects included brain bleeding, swelling on the brain, and death. Two people from the study have passed, they were both taking blood thinners, so researchers have suggested that there may be a link between these serious side effects and the combination of Lecanemab and blood thinners.
Many believe even with the side effects, we are entering into a new era for people with Alzheimer’s. Lecanemab might be the next medicine to open new experimental doors for further testing and experimenting to help slow or even cure Alzheimer’s.
Sources:
https://nypost.com/2022/09/28/new-alzheimers-drug-lecanemab-slows-disease-study/
