A new class of Alzheimer’s drugs offers hope of slowing cognitive decline. However, emerging research shows that only a fraction of patients may qualify for these potentially life-changing treatments due to underlying health conditions that could compromise their effectiveness.
The Drugs Approved for Alzheimer’s
In January, a large clinical trial found that a biweekly IV infusion of lecanemab (Leqembi) slowed cognitive decline by 25 percent in patients with early Alzheimer’s. By July, lecanemab received full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment in the early stages of the disease, becoming the second of a new category of medications approved for the disease, the first being aducanumab (Aduhelm).These drugs target beta-amyloid plaques, identified as a sign of Alzheimer’s disease. While these plaques, which form when beta-amyloid protein pieces clump together, may be found in the earliest stages of the neurogenerative disease or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) associated with early Alzheimer’s, they aren’t present in MCI from other causes like vascular issues. This makes them a focus to treat this form of dementia specifically.
