The drug has been hailed as a ‘turning point’ in Alzheimer’s treatment. But keep in mind the trial only included participants with early or mild disease. And while it slowed decline, it’s not a cure.
Donanemab targets amyloid plaques in the brain.
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Late-stage trial results suggest the drug can slow cognitive decline by 35%.
Alzheimer’s disease is an incapacitating, progressive brain disorder that affects the lives of more than 6.5 million Americans.
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In clinical trials, lecanemab slowed disease progression by 27% and reduced the amount of plaque found in the brains of those with Alzheimer’s disease.
Lecanemab is an antibody that attaches to beta-amyloid proteins accumulated in the brain and allows the immune system to get rid of them.
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An 18-month treatment with lecanemab slows functional and cognitive loss by 27 per cent in people with mild Alzheimer’s disease. But this is only the first step towards a real cure.
Inflammatory cells surrounding amyloid plaque and activation of astrocytes, critical in maintaining the brain health.
Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute
Not all Alzheimer’s research has been compromised by allegations of scientific fraud. But we should interrogate whether the governing bodies of research and drug approvals are truly effective.
The subtleties of how genes are transcribed into RNA molecules like the one depicted here are key to understanding the inner workings of cells.
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Shang Gao, University of Illinois Chicago e Jalees Rehman, University of Illinois Chicago
Machine learning is great at finding patterns but doesn’t know what those patterns mean. Combine it with knowledge gained from genetic research and you have a powerful view into the workings of cells.
Aducanumab (Aduhelm) was approved in the U.S., but there is no convincing evidence the drug will help Alzheimer’s patients.
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FDA approval of aducanumab (Aduhelm) was contentious. Its submission to Health Canada for approval highlights concerns about evidence, independence and transparency in Canada’s drug approval process.
Clinical trials of the drug have shown mixed results.
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by progressive memory loss, spatial disorientation and many other cognitive and behavioural disorders that ultimately lead to a state of total dependence.
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In mice, we found that drugs developed to treat Alzheimer’s Disease could be re-purposed to prevent, or even reverse, the blood vessel damage caused by obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Blacks have twice the incidence rates for Alzheimer’s as whites.
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Blacks are at higher risk for many diseases. This is partly due to poverty, discrimination and lack of access to care. But there may be something different about the higher rates of Alzheimer’s.
Success in human drug development is painfully low.
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Paul Maruff, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
News reports this week hailing a breakthrough in Alzheimer’s research, saying a vaccine for the disease is a few years away, have raised hopes for many. But let’s take a step back from the headlines.