The number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s and other related dementias continues to grow at a staggering rate, creating an ever-escalating catastrophic situation for our seniors and those who care for them.
While many of us focus on care for our loved ones, scientists continue to look for breakthroughs that might stem the tide of this disease. And a recent announcement may be good news in that regard.
Presented recently at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Chicago, the results of a large clinical trial showed a drug being used was able to both reduce the plaques in the brains of patients and slow the progression of dementia.
People who received the highest dosage of the drug during an 18-month test showed an 81 percent reduction in the plaque buildup found on the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, as well as a 30 percent reduction in the indicators of early Alzheimer’s. The trial involved 856 patients from the United States, Europe and Japan diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or mild Alzheimer’s dementia.
With the exception of a few medications that can slow memory decline for a few months, there has been no effective treatment for Alzheimer’s yet.
The companies that administered the test suggested that this was the first time a late-stage anti-amyloid antibody showed promising results. They announced during the conference that they would plan to seek regulatory approval and make the drug available to patients as quickly as possible.
An estimated 5.7 million Americans 65 and over are currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association predicts that number to mushroom to nearly 14 million by 2050 without new treatments. So while this breakthrough remains in the early stages, it may be the drug needed to slow the growth of this disease.