Category Archives: Treatment

Enhanced brain cells clear away dementia-related proteins

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WashU Medicine researchers designed a cellular immunotherapy that turns astrocytes (green), a type of cell in the brain, into super cleaners that sweep away Alzheimer’s-related proteins. With this new feature, the cells successfully reduced the amount of harmful amyloid beta plaques (blue) in the brains of mice.

The new generation of Alzheimer’s disease drugs — the first proven to change the course of the disease — typically extend independent living for patients by 10 months. Called monoclonal antibodies, they reduce the accumulations of a harmful protein, amyloid, in the brain and require high-dose, once- or twice-monthly infusions of the medication.

See the article HERE

Pilot trials could be the breakthrough the NHS needs to bring new Alzheimer’s treatments to patients

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For decades, families affected by Alzheimer’s have had little more than hope to cling to.  

Today, however, there are treatments that can slow the progression of early-stage Alzheimer’s. After years of setback and frustration, finally there are medicines that change the trajectory of the disease rather than simply managing symptoms. 

We’ve proven that science can address the issue. Now the challenge we face is practical. 

New treatments 

In the UK, these new treatments are not available in the NHS. If you want them, you have to pay for them. That’s because of the way the NHS makes decisions about what medicines it will fund – this approach aims to balance the costs to the NHS against the benefits of any treatment. In the case of two new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease neither was judged as “cost effective”.  

New treatments pose real challenges for health systems when making these decisions. The data about them is limited – usually just from a clinical trial over a fixed period in group of participants who don’t fully reflect the people who will use the treatment in the health system. It’s no surprise then that the first treatments to slow the progress of Alzheimer’s would pose uncertainties about their longer-term use in the real world.  

Read more HERE

Scientists discover brain switches that clear Alzheimer’s plaques

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Researchers have identified two brain receptors that help the brain clear away amyloid beta, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. By stimulating these receptors in mice, scientists increased levels of a natural amyloid-breaking enzyme, reduced buildup in the brain, and improved memory-related behavior. Because these receptors are common drug targets, the findings could open the door to affordable pill-based treatments with fewer side effects.

Read more HERE

Researchers identify promising Alzheimer’s disease drug target

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Indiana University School of Medicine scientists have identified a promising drug target for Alzheimer’s disease. The team found that removing an enzyme from neurons in the brain substantially reduces amyloid plaques—a hallmark characteristic of the disease—and may provide further resilience against disease progression.

Read more HERE

First intervention shown to Lower Alzheimer’s and Dementia Incidence

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In a world’s first, an NIH-funded randomized controlled trial of more than 2,800 older adults (the “ACTIVE Study”) has reported a modest amount of cognitive training significantly reduced Alzheimer Disease and related dementias diagnoses, as reported in Medicare data over a 20-year follow-up period. The results are published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions,

Read the article about it HERE

Medicare caregiver support program yields better outcomes than Alzheimer’s medication alone, study finds

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Patients with dementia who participated in a Medicare-funded collaborative care program that provided support and medical advice for caregivers were able to remain in their home communities longer before entering nursing homes, according to a new study. This compares to those patients who were taking lecanemab, one of two approved drugs that have been shown to slow progression of Alzheimer’s in some patients, a February study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging found.