Experimental drugs can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease in some populations: Research

An experimental drug has shown promise to prevent Alzheimer’s patients at higher risk for disease.

According to a press release, this is a clinical trial of people with rare genetic mutations that almost “guaranteed” future development of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

The study included 73 people, 73 people, with mutations, which led to overproduction of amyloid in the brain.

Research shows

Amyloid is a protein that accumulates in the brain and can interfere with cognitive function, and is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s.

The version said that none of the participants had (or very mild) cognitive decline, had a family history of Alzheimer’s, and within 15 years of age after the expected age of having symptoms.

The researchers reported that for 22 participants who had been a drug called Gantner tumor drug for eight years, their risk of developing symptoms was cut in half – from 100% to 50%.

“What we know is that at least it is possible to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms and give people more healthy life.”

Senior writers Randall J. Bateman, Charles F., Charles F. and Joanne Knight’s distinguished professor of neurology told Fox News Digital on Washu Medicine.

The findings were published on March 19 in the journal Lancet Neurology.

The researchers reported that for 22 participants who had been a drug called Gantner tumor drug for eight years, their risk of developing symptoms was cut in half – from 100% to 50%. (iStock)

Gantenerumab is a monoclonal antibody designed to target and remove amyloid plaques in the brain, and Roche is developing in Switzerland and its U.S. subsidiary Genentech.

However, in 2023, Roche/Genentech’s own clinical trial found that the drug stopped developing in 2023 because the drug did not meet its “primary endpoint” due to the cognitive decline in patients with early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

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“Everyone in this study is destined to develop Alzheimer’s disease, some of whom have not yet,” Bateman said in a press release.

He continued to use another anti-amyloid antibody, hoping that they would never show symptoms. “He continued.”

Hopefully, if the trial of late Alzheimer’s has similar results, the prevention approach can eventually be provided to the general population. (iStock)

“What we know is that at least it is possible to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms and give people more healthy life.”

According to Bateman, if a trial of late Alzheimer’s has similar results, then prevention methods can eventually be provided to the general population.

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“I’m very optimistic right now because this may be the first clinical evidence to prevent people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” he said. “One day, we may postpone the onset of millions of Alzheimer’s disease.”

Howard Fillit, MD, co-founder and chief scientific officer of the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, notes that the study shows that early treatments remove plaques for the first time before symptoms appear can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s – “similar to how we treat and prevent other chronic diseases.”

Although Gantnarumzumab is no longer developed, researchers are evaluating other anti-amyloid drugs, such as Remternerugs made by Eli Lilly, to determine whether 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 also prevent it through therapeutic interventions,” Fillit, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.

Potential limitations and risks

Bateman told Fox News Digital that the study has several major limitations.

He said the number was limited due to mutations, the use of external controls and the fact that the study started at a lower dose.

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“Many participants are still cognitively normal, and their expected age of onset is close to or exceeding their expected age even after more than eight years of treatment, so this effect may be greater or smaller by continuing treatment and follow-up.”

The researchers noted that anti-amyloid drugs such as ganterozumab have been shown to cause amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA).

Amyloid is a protein that accumulates in the brain and can interfere with cognitive function, and is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s. (iStock)

The releases show “a tiny spots of blood in the brain or local swelling of the brain,” the release said.

Most of these side effects do not cause symptoms and resolve without treatment, but in rare cases, arias can cause serious medical problems and can even be fatal.

This latest study shows that 30% of participants may be due to higher doses of the drug.

The researchers noted that although the two participants had to stop using Gantenerumab, there were no “life-threatening adverse events and no deaths” due to severe ARIA.

“Overall, the safety of Gantna tumors in extended is similar to the original trial and other clinical trials of Gantnarumumab,” they said.

More research is needed, experts agree

While these initial findings are encouraging, more research is needed on the effects of these drugs, said Dr. Chris Vercammen, a board-certified physician specializing in geriatric medicine and palliative care.

Vercammen also told Fox News Digital. (He was not involved in the new research.)

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“It is important to note that the design of this study focuses on high-risk individuals at the preclinical stage and therefore does not provide sufficient data on the effects of these drugs on later stage Alzheimer’s.”

Filit added that the new study opens the door to further explore the exploration of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.

Anti-amyloid drugs such as ganterozumab have been shown to cause amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIAs) that appear on brain scans as “blood in the brain or local swelling of the brain.” (iStock)

“We look forward to seeing longitudinal data and further research,” he told Fox News Digital.

“These efforts bring us closer to our ultimate goal of preventing the disease before it begins.”

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Although Gantnarumzumab is no longer developed, researchers are evaluating other anti-amyloid drugs, such as Remternerugs made by Eli Lilly, to determine whether they can prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

“These efforts bring us closer to our ultimate goal of preventing the disease before it begins.”

Bateman told Fox News that rare families with these mutations may want to participate in ongoing trials. ”

“The older general population may be interested in knowing that people with amyloid plaques are undergoing trials to test this approach to determine whether symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can be prevented.”

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The study was mainly funded by the Alzheimer’s Association, the GHR Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Fox News Digital and Roche/Genentech reached out to comment.