How to Prescribe Controversial Alzheimer’s Drug?

New drug raises challenge of targeting those with mild cognitive impairment

An FDA advisory committee strongly recommended against Aduhelm’s approval because the drug didn't test well. Daisy Daisy/Shutterstock

The approval of a controversial new drug for Alzheimer’s disease, Aduhelm, is shining a spotlight on mild cognitive impairment—problems with memory, attention, language, or other cognitive tasks that exceed changes expected with normal aging.

After initially indicating that Aduhelm could be prescribed to anyone with dementia, the Food and Drug Administration now specifies that the prescription drug be given to individuals with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage Alzheimer’s, the groups in which the medication was studied.