ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE - SCI & TECH
News: The new Alzheimer’s drug: Why Donanemab, yet to be approved, has
generated excitement
What is in the news?
●
Within a year, a second
drug has been found effective in checking cognitive decline in people with
early Alzheimer’s.
Key takeaways:
●
Developed by the
pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, Donanemab was found to slow down cognitive
decline by 35% when compared with a placebo in a phase III trial.
●
The two recent drugs
don’t stop or reverse Alzheimer’s. Their results have still excited
neurologists, because over the years, despite heavy investments, trial after
trial for Alzheimer’s medications has failed.
Findings from the trial:
●
Over an 18-month period,
the trial met the primary endpoint of slowing cognitive decline in those with
early Alzheimer’s.
●
Along with a 35% slower
cognitive decline in those who received the drug, it noted a 40% less decline
in people’s ability to do day-to-day tasks.
●
Interestingly, the drug
slowed meaningful cognitive decline even when the data of 552 patients with
high levels of tau – representing those in the later stage of the disease – was
added to the results.
●
More importantly, the
study found that there was no cognitive decline in 47% of the people who
received the drug as compared with 29% of those who received a placebo.
How does a drug work?
●
Donanemab
is a monoclonal antibody that targets
the abnormal plaques of amyloid beta protein characteristically seen in
brain images of those with Alzheimer’s.
●
Its mechanism of action
is similar to Lecanemab, the drug
developed by Japanese and American companies Eisai and Biogen
●
Another drug by Eisai and
Biogen called Aducanumab, which was
the first Alzheimer’s drug to receive approval in 2021 after decades, also has
a similar mechanism of action.
Side effects of these drugs:
●
All three of them are
linked to similar side effects:
○ temporary swelling
and
○ tiny bleeds
in the brain, called amyloid-related
imaging abnormalities (ARIA).
Alzheimer's disease:
●
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that
affects the brain, leading to memory loss, cognitive decline, behavioral changes,
problems with words in speaking or writing, poor judgment, changes in mood and
personality, confusion with time or place, etc.
Prevention:
●
Lifestyle
modifications that are known to reduce risks of other
non-communicable diseases, like diabetes and hypertension, are also associated
with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s.
●
Doctors prescribe a
healthy diet, exercising regularly, sleeping well, and reducing the risk of
diabetes and heart disease.
●
They also suggest
stopping smoking and reducing drinking.