The Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval of a disease-modifying treatment that could potentially give some patients with Alzheimer's disease something they haven't had before: a medication that may slow the decline of memory and thinking.
A monoclonal antibody, lecanemab, shows promise in removing amyloid plaques from the brain, according to phase 3 trial results. Amyloid plaques are one of the defining features of Alzheimer's disease, according to Dr. Ronald Petersen, a neurologist and director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.
"Amyloid is one of the key proteins involved in Alzheimer's disease. It's thought that by removing amyloid from the brain, you will slow down the rate of progression of the disease. Now, importantly, it doesn't stop the disease. It doesn't make people better, but it will slow down the rate at which the disease progresses so people remain functional for a longer period of time," says Dr. Petersen.
