An experimental medication has proven to be promising in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease for people more at risk of developing the disease.
It is according to a new study by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where researchers conducted a clinical trial of people with rare Genetic mutations This “guarantees” the development of future Alzheimer’s, according to a press release.
The study included 73 people in the thirties, the 1940s and 1950s who have the mutation, which causes an overproduction of amyloid in the brain.
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The amyloid, a protein that accumulates in the brain and can interfere with cognitive function, is one of the characteristics of Alzheimer.
An experimental medication has proven to be promising in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease for people more at risk of developing the disease. (istock)
Not all participants had a cognitive (or very light) decline, had a Family history of Alzheimer’s diseaseAnd were within 15 years before 10 years after their expected age of development of symptoms, said release.
For 22 of the participants who received a medication called Gantenerumab for eight years, their risk of development of symptoms was half reduced – from 100% to 50% – the researchers reported.
“What we know is that it is possible to delay at least the appearance of symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and to give people more years of healthy life.”
“No effect was seen on those treated only for two to three years of treatment,” the main author Randall J. Bateman, MD, The Charles F. and Joanne Knight, Professor of Neurology at Washu Medicine told Fox News.
The results were published in the journal The Lancet Neurology on March 19.
For 22 of the participants who received a medication called Gantenerumab for eight years, their risk of development of symptoms was half reduced – from 100% to 50% – the researchers reported. (istock)
Gantenerumab, a monoclonal antibody designed to target and eliminate amyloid plates in the brain, was in development by Roche in Switzerland and its American affiliate, Genentech.
Development was arrested in 2023, however, after Roche / Genentech Clinical trials found that the drug did not meet their “evaluation criterion” to slow down the cognitive decline of people with an early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease, according to the press release.
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“Everyone in this study was intended to develop Alzheimer’s disease and some of them have not yet done so,” Bateman said in the press release.
“We do not yet know how long they will stay without symptoms-perhaps a few years or perhaps decades. In order to give them the best opportunity to remain cognitively normal, we have continued a treatment with another anti-amyloid antibody in the hope that they will never develop symptoms at all,” he continued.
Hope is that if late Alzheimer’s trials have similar results, prevention methods could ultimately be available for the general population, according to researchers. (istock)
“What we know is that it is possible to delay at least the appearance of symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and to give people more years healthy life. “”
The hope is that if late Alzheimer’s trials have similar results, prevention methods could ultimately be available for the general population, according to Bateman.
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“I am very optimistic now, because it could be the first clinical proof of what will become prevention of people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” he said. “One day soon, we could delay the start of Alzheimer’s disease for millions.”
Howard Fillit, MD, co -founder and head of sciences of Alzheimer Drug Discovery Foundation in New York, noted that the study shows for the first time that early treatment to erase plates before symptoms occur can delay the appearance of Alzheimer – “similar to the way we deal with other chronic diseases”.
Although the Gnantenerumab is no longer developed, researchers assess other anti -amyloid drugs – such as RemneurTug, which is manufactured by Eli Lilly – to determine if they can prevent Alzheimer’s disease. (istock)
“We have entered a new era of Alzheimer’s research where we can not only modify the course of the disease, but where prevention is possible with Therapeutic intervention“Said Fillit, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
Potential limitations and risks
There were several main limits for research, Bateman told Fox News Digital.
The number of people was limited due to the scarcity of Alzheimer’s disease caused by mutations, the use of external witnesses and the fact that the study began with lower doses, he said.
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“Many participants are still cognitively normal and close or exceeded or exceed their age of start, even after more than eight years of treatment, so that the effects could be larger or smaller with continuous treatment and follow -up,” noted Bateman.
The researchers noted that anti-amyloid drugs The Gnantenerumab has been shown to cause imagery anomalies linked to the amyloid (ARIA).
The amyloid, a protein that accumulates in the brain and can interfere with cognitive function, is one of the characteristics of Alzheimer. (istock)
These appear on cerebral scanks like “tiny blood spots in the brain or located brain swelling“The version indicated.
The majority of these side effects do not cause symptoms and do not resolve without treatment, but in rare cases, Aria can cause serious medical problems or can even be fatal.
This most recent study has shown that 30% of participants have undergone an ARIA, probably due to the higher doses of the drug.
Although two participants had to stop using the Gantenerumab because of the severe ARIA, there were no “potentially fatal unwanted events and no deaths,” noted the researchers.
“Overall, the Gantenerumab safety profile in the extension was similar to that of the original trial and other clinical trials of Gantenerumab,” they said.
No more necessary research, experts agree
Dr. Chris Vercammen, a certified internal medicine doctor Palliative geriatrics and caresaid that even if these initial results are “encouraging”, additional research is necessary on the effects of these drugs.
“Large randomized trials, including various populations and people with late Alzheimer’s, are necessary to validate these first results and determine the full potential of these treatments,” said Vercammen, who is also medical director of Remo Health in California, in Fox News Digital. (He was not involved in the new study.)
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“It is important to note that the design of this study has focused on high -risk individuals at the preclinical stage, and therefore does not provide sufficient data on the impact of these drugs on Alzheimer at a later stage.”
Fillit added that this new research opens the door to a more in -depth exploration of preclinical Alzheimer’s treatment.
Anti-amyloid drugs and the Glovenerumab have been shown to cause imagery anomalies related to the amyloid (ARIA), which appear on brain scanners like “tiny blood spots in the brain or a localized swelling of the brain”. (istock)
“We are impatient to see longitudinal data as well as other studies around this approach,” he told Fox News Digital.
“These efforts bring us closer to our ultimate goal of Prevent disease Before it starts. “”
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Although the Gnantenerumab is no longer developed, researchers assess other anti -amyloid drugs – such as RemneurTug, which is manufactured by Eli Lilly – to determine if they can prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
“These efforts bring us closer to our ultimate goal of preventing disease before it begins.”
“These rare families with changes may wish to participate in current trials,” Bateman told Fox News Digital.
“The general population could be interested in knowing that there is current trials In people with amyloid plates to test this approach to determine whether the symptoms of Alzheimer’s could be avoided. “”
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The study was financed mainly by the Alzheimer’s association, the GHR Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Fox News Digital contacted Roche / Genentech to comment.
