Could a new treatment developed by the US pharmaceutical company Lilley mean “the beginning of the end” of Alzheimer’s? Could we even cure the disease some day? These are the types of headlines and questions swirling around after news of a new drug, called donanemab, showed promising results in phase-3 trials at slowing down the decline in cognitive functions and reducing the deterioration in the ability to undertake daily tasks independently.
Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-70% of cases. It is not a normal part of ageing, even though it largely affects those over 65. It’s a degenerative disease where symptoms worsen over years, starting with mild memory loss and moving towards the complete loss of ability to recognise loved ones and caregivers, confusion and disorientation between the past and present, and the inability to live independently. It can be heartbreaking for families to watch the deterioration of loved ones who almost become like a different person, with extreme mood and behavioural changes.
