Breakthrough drug for Alzheimer's disease approved in the US

A new drug for Alzheimer’s disease has been approved in the United States and could be available in the UK from as early as next year.

Aducanumab is the first new drug to get approval in the US for more than 20 years. It has shown to benefit some people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, by helping to prevent the build-up of the amyloid protein that causes cognitive decline.

The brain is made up of millions of nerve cells that connect to each other, Alzheimer’s disease disrupts these connections with ‘plaques’ and ‘tangles’ than build up over time. This eventually leads to the nerve cells dying, and the subsequent loss of brain tissue. Dementia is symptomatic of this cognitive decline, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common cause.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease progress over time, often slowly over several years. These symptoms include confusion, difficulty making decisions, problems with speech and even personality changes. Furthermore, the area of the brain affected by dementia depends on which type of dementia you have.

While not everyone who took part n the clinical trials for Aducanumab saw positive results, those who did found they were better able to travel independently, perform household chores, and manage their finances.

If Aducanumab is approved by the UK and European regulatory authorities, it will likely only be available to people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. However, given the lack of treatments available for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, the news is a significant stepping-stone and could support the development of other anti-amyloid drugs.

Dr Richard Oakley, the Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Society, a national charity raising vital funds for dementia research and support for people living with a form of dementia said: “This is just the beginning of the road to new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. As this drug will only benefit a proportion of people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, there are hundreds of thousands more who may not be eligible. We must keep searching for drugs for all stages of Alzheimer’s disease and for other types of dementia.”

Aducanumab is now going to be tracked by scientists in the US, in a further trial to monitor its impact. To be granted approval in the UK, the drug will have to be scrutinised by several agencies, who may demand further trials to assess its benefits. We can expect to hear the outcome from the European Medicines Agency from October this year, with a UK result following in 2022.

Alzheimer’s society has produced a short film about the announcement, featuring Dr Richard Oakley, which you can watch here. You can also read more on the Alzheimer’s Society’s research blog.

As a provider of quality Alzheimer’s homecare and dementia care at home services, we support the vital work of Alzheimer’s society. Across the Right at Home network, we have collectively raised £50,000 for Alzheimer’s society since our charity partnerships launched in 2019. Earlier this year, our Care Giver team also completed dementia care training courses to ensure their care is continually outstanding.

Do you provide dementia homecare for a loved one? If you would like to know more about how Right at Home Stevenage, Letchworth & Hitchin can provide dementia home help to support you and your family, please call us on 01462 559159, or email us at [email protected].