Alzheimer ’s drugs are a ray of hope. They must be accessible to all, not the wealthy few | Devi Sridhar

There are now two impressive possible treatments for this form of dementia. But fears remain over cost and potential side-effectsCould a new treatment developed by the US pharmaceutical company Lilley mean “the beginning of the end” of Alzheimer’s? Could we even cure the disease some day? These are the types of headlines and questions swirling around after news of a new drug, calleddonanemab, showed promising results in phase-3 trials at slowing down the decline in cognitive functions and reducing the deterioration in the ability to undertake daily tasks independently.Alzheimer ’s is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for60-70% of cases. It is not a normal part of ageing, even though it largely affects those over 65. It ’s a degenerative disease where symptoms worsen over years, starting with mild memory loss and moving towards the complete loss of ability to recognise loved ones and caregivers, confusion and disorientation between the past and present, and the inability to live independently. It can be heartbrea king for families to watch the deterioration of loved ones who almost become like a different person, with extreme mood and behavioural changes.Prof Devi Sridhar is chair of global public health at the University of EdinburghContinue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Alzheimer's Health Society Ageing Drugs Science UK news Source Type: news