Dementia drug shows early signs of success, in landmark breakthrough

'This is a historic moment for dementia research.'

Researchers have hailed the dawn of a new era of Alzheimer's therapies after lecanemab trial confirmed slows cognitive decline by 27 per cent. Image: The Father IMDB

A groundbreaking trial in the United Kingdom with Eisai and Biogen partnered drug lecanemab has produced ground-breaking results in slowing dementia in the early stages of Alzeimer's disease. 

The results of a recent phase three trial in the UK should come as incredible news to anyone who has been touched by the heartbreak of Alzheimer's disease. And as the second leading cause of death in Australia, that's a lot of us.

According to The Sun, after 18 months of treatment, Eisai's Biogen-partnered Alzheimer's disease drug lecanemab, was found to be effective in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease in 898 of the trial's participants.

At the end of the trial, participants aged 50 to 90 with early Alzheimer's disease showed signs of reduced cognitive and functional decline, with brain scores that were 27 per cent higher than 897 placebo recipients.

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While the drug is not a cure, the treatment has the potential to offer patients precious months or perhaps years of extra quality time, and quality of life.

Alzheimer’s Research UK told The Sun about how it works, “This is the first drug that’s been shown to not only remove the build-up of protein but to have a significant impact on cognitive decline."

Multiple drugmakers have tried and failed to find an effective treatment in the past, but this trial pursued the theory that removing sticky deposits of a protein called amyloid beta from the brains of people with early Alzheimer's can actually slow the progression of the debilitating disease.

The drug's ability to reduce cognitive decline was assessed in the trial using the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), a numerical scale used to quantify the severity of dementia in patients in areas such as memory, orientation, judgement and problem solving, and personal care.

Alzheimer’s Research UK told The Sun enthusiastically, “This is a historic moment for dementia research."

New data shows Alzheimer's drug can slow cognitive decline. Image: iStock

Eisai plans to apply for approval early next year, which is the first step towards getting it to patients in the early phases of the disease. However, the jab will be costly in the long run, and it may take years to roll out globally.

It should also be noted that the treatment has serious side effects, including fatal brain bleeds, which doctors must weigh against the benefits when administering to individual patients.

According to Dementia Australia, the number of Australians living with the disease is anticipated to double to 1.1 million by 2058, prompting a race to stop its progression.

Despite the fact that it is still early in the process, this is a wonderful sign of hope for patients and their families who are desperate for progress in research for a cure.

Originally published as Dementia drug shows early signs of success, in landmark breakthrough