DIAN Scientific Advancements

For the first time, scientists say, they have evidence that using a biologic drug to remove sticky beta amyloid plaques from the brains of people destined to develop Alzheimer’s dementia can delay the disease.

Clinical trial of people destined to develop early-onset Alzheimer’s disease shows eliminating amyloid from brain may prevent symptoms, supports need for confirmatory studies

Research announced today is the first of its kind to suggest that anti-amyloid drugs can delay or even stop the progression of symptoms in people with early-onset Alzheimer’s.

As discussed at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia, nearly two dozen mutation carriers who took gantenerumab for eight years had half the risk of developing symptoms as did untreated controls.

Many researchers think the full promise of plaque removal lies in prevention. If plaques were abolished before they could kick off downstream pathologies such as tangles, would the disease be stopped in its tracks?

The soaring burden of dementia threatens global health. Science is paving new paths to solutions.