Brain Health Atlanta: Eli Lilly’s experimental Alzheimer’s drug slows disease. Doctor Explains | Plus

Know this: “For sure, this can be huge. Donanemab slowed progressing by almost 35%. But, please keep this in mind–while it’s not a cure, donanemab represents important progress in preserving brain function for Alzheimer’s patients. In the mean time, you can also continue to do some proven things to improve your brain health and even delay dementia. Things like, staying cognitively active–keep that brain sharp! Learn new things, listen to music, be social with your friends, get good sleep, and even make sure that you treat your hearing loss!” Dr. Puja Uppal, Family Medicine.

A new experimental Alzheimer’s drug, donanemab, slowed declines in memory and thinking. The drug slowed declines by over 33% in early symptomatic Alzheimer’s patients.

• Though, researchers and commentators are raising concerns about the drug’s safety risks, high costs, and barriers to access like infusion requirements and imaging.
• There are concerns that marginalized groups may have less access due to uninsured status, transportation barriers, and Medicaid coverage gaps.

Elsewhere: “The trial outcomes were “the most positive we have seen,” said Howard Fillit, co-founder and chief science officer of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes research on treatments for Alzheimer’s. He said therapies that target amyloid, as donanemab does, “will serve as the first line of defense in the arsenal of drugs needed to treat this disease,” and he predicted the Food and Drug Administration would approve the medication within months.” (Washington Post)