Alzheimer's wonder drug could give patients four more years of good health
Share this @internewscast.com

Groundbreaking new Alzheimer’s treatment could give patients four years of better health. Patients who participated in the trial of the drug lecanemab also saw improvements in their cognitive function. Last year, the treatment was licensed for use in the UK after trials demonstrated its ability to slow the progress of the disease. 

The results show that, over 18 months, it slowed the progression of Alzheimer’s by 5.7 months. 478 patients then stayed on the drug for four years, which found an average delay of almost 11 months before their disease worsened to the next stage, The Telegraph has revealed. A staggering 69% of patients with low levels of tau – the protein that builds up as Alzheimer’s progresses – saw no decline at all over four years. Over half (56%) of those in the same group also saw major improvements in their cognitive scores. 

Patients with mild dementia usually see scores rise by between one and two points each year on the scoring systems used to track Alzheimer’s. However, across the entire group trialling the drug, decline slowed to just 1.75 points over four years. 

“The thing I really focus on is the time saved. You will get worse over time, but it will take longer to get there,” Prof Christopher Van Dyck, the director of the Alzheimer’s Research unit at the Yale school of medicine and the study leader, said. 

He added that the findings argued the case for starting early treatment of the disease due to it having the best results in people with the lowest pathology. 

Experts have since said the new treatments could “meaningfully change the course of the disease”, and not just slow decline. 

A separate trail of the similar drug donanemab also showed promising results. Patients were tracked for three years, with the treatment given for just 18 months.

The findings showed that those on the drug had gained between six and 12 months before the disease progressed further, compared to those not on the treatment. 

Dr Sheona Scales, the director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, told The Telegraph that, while the findings offered renewed hope, research is ongoing.

“This is the first wave of disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer’s and, while the progress is encouraging, there are still many pieces of the puzzle we don’t yet have,” she said. 

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Tragic Losses: Remembering 16 Stars from TLC’s ‘My 600-lb Life’ Who Passed Away After the Show

The reality TV community is mourning as the death toll from the…

Evolution of the Ideal Female Body: A Century of Changing Beauty Standards

In a world where beauty ideals are constantly evolving, many women find…

Crucial Alert for Wood Burner Owners: Safety Tips You Can’t Ignore

A stark alert has been sounded for individuals using wood burners and…

Revolutionary 20-Minute Facial Massage Technique Goes Viral for Instantly Enhancing Jawline

A new viral beauty trend is gaining traction on TikTok and Instagram,…

Persistent Fatigue: Could It Indicate a Rare Health Condition?

In today’s fast-paced world, fatigue is a common complaint, but for those…

Insights from Boris Johnson: Lessons on Living with Cancer and the Learning Curve Ahead

Ed Miliband, caught mid-bite on a bacon sandwich, looked like someone waking…

Grandmother’s Dramatic 5-Stone Weight Loss with Mounjaro Exposes Unexpected ‘Melted Welly’ Effect

A grandmother from Cumbernauld, Lanarkshire, who shed five stone with the help…

Subtle Indicators of a Brain Aneurysm: Insights Following Kim Kardashian’s Recent Diagnosis

Kim Kardashian recently alarmed her followers by disclosing her diagnosis of a…

From Housebound to Healthy: My Inspiring 9-Stone Weight Loss Journey

A remarkable journey of transformation has seen a young woman shed half…

Discover How a 45-Year-Old Man Reversed Hair Loss and Shed 8 Stone Naturally: The Key Test Every Man Needs to Know for Beating the Dad Bod

Mike Denman, a father of two, vividly recalls the pivotal moment when…

Groundbreaking Discovery: Embracing Gray Hair May Offer Cancer Protection, Say Scientists

A recent study suggests that graying hair might be the body’s natural…

Boost Your Alertness with a Simple 5p Sweet: Study Reveals Surprising Benefits as Clocks Roll Back

The study uncovered the benefits of the herb, which may come in…