Alzheimer's drug donanemab

[~ True Legend ~]

A new drug, donanemab, is being hailed as a turning point in the fight against Alzheimer's, after a global trial confirms it slows cognitive decline.

Drug donanemab seen as turning point in dementia fight

The antibody treatment donanemab slows clinical decline by around a third, a large trial confirms.

www.bbc.co.uk

The antibody medicine helps in the early stages of the disease by clearing a protein that builds up in the brains of people with this type of dementia.

Although not a cure, charities say the results in the journal JAMA mark a new era where Alzheimer's can be treated.

The UK's drugs watchdog has started assessing it for possible NHS use.

The drug works in Alzheimer's disease, not in other types of dementia, such as vascular dementia.

In the trials, it appears to have slowed the pace of the disease by about a third, allowing people to retain more of their day-to-day lives and tasks, such as making meals and enjoying a hobby.

It's not without its risks, however...

Although extremely promising, these drugs are not risk-free treatments.

Brain swelling was a common side-effect in up to a third of patients in the donanemab trial. For most, this resolved without causing symptoms. However, two volunteers, and possibly a third, died as a result of dangerous swelling in the brain.

Another antibody Alzheimer's drug, called aducanumab, was recently rejected by European regulators over safety concerns and a lack of evidence that it was effective enough for patients.

 

[MrDawn]

It'll be nice when they come out with a drug that is successful and is affordable that would cut down on dementia patients being sent off to nursing homes.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

It'll be nice when they come out with a drug that is successful and is affordable that would cut down on dementia patients being sent off to nursing homes.

Only time will tell if the brain swelling is a legitimate risk.

 

[passenger]

It will be so wonderful when either an actual cure or cause for this is found; a cause so that it could be prevented.
I guess drugs like this may give some patients a little more time in hopes that a cure will be discovered.
Personally I have a negative opinion of these drugs that only prolong, not improve the condition.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

It will be so wonderful when either an actual cure or cause for this is found; a cause so that it could be prevented.
I guess drugs like this may give some patients a little more time in hopes that a cure will be discovered.
Personally I have a negative opinion of these drugs that only prolong, not improve the condition.

Why a negative view? It’s better than nothing, right? Well, maybe not given the side effects. Only time will tell on that front.

 

[passenger]

Why a negative view? It’s better than nothing, right? Well, maybe not given the side effects. Only time will tell on that front.

What you see is what you get........that's my opinion even though it does not agree with yours.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

What you see is what you get........that's my opinion even though it does not agree with yours.

I respect that, I’m just curious to understand. Are you against medication in general? Are you an anti vaxxer?

 

[passenger]

I respect that, I’m just curious to understand. Are you against medication in general? Are you an anti vaxxer?

Having had some 'close encounters' with Alzheimer's patients I have observed that, among countless other fatal difficulties, these people are stuck in an ever-increasing state of confusion and helplessness.
To only prolong these conditions seems a cruel effort. Continuing to allow nature to NATURALLY take it's course seems best until a CURE is found ........ IMO.

Jumping off into some anti-vax/anti medication tiresome trip is total flippant nonsense ......IMO.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

Having had some 'close encounters' with Alzheimer's patients I have observed that, among countless other fatal difficulties, these people are stuck in an ever-increasing state of confusion and helplessness.
To only prolong these conditions seems a cruel effort. Continuing to allow nature to NATURALLY take it's course seems best until a CURE is found ........ IMO.

Ah, thanks for explaining!
Only time will tell if this drug will hopefully have positive long term effects on alzheimer's patients though, as this is still new.

 

[MrDawn]

Ah, thanks for explaining!
Only time will tell if this drug will hopefully have positive long term effects on alzheimer's patients though, as this is still new.

20 years ago, Time Magazine published many many studies on research cures for Alzheimer's. It's an extremely complicated condition caused by many factors. It could be many many decades before they come up with some new methods to successfully treat it.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

20 years ago, Time Magazine published many many studies on research cures for Alzheimer's. It's an extremely complicated condition caused by many factors. It could be many many decades before they come up with some new methods to successfully treat it.

I wasn't aware there's awareness of the causes. Will look into that!

 

[passenger]

I wasn't aware there's awareness of the causes. Will look into that!

Prions ......... brain-eating prions

" Prion aggregates are stable, and this structural stability means that prions are resistant to denaturation by chemical and physical agents: they cannot be destroyed by ordinary disinfection or cooking. This makes disposal and containment of these particles difficult, and the risk of iatrogenic spread through medical instruments a growing concern."

 

[MrDawn]

I wasn't aware there's awareness of the causes. Will look into that!

In any case, the Neuro and Pharmaceutical Science for finding a successful solution to treat Alzheimer's is going to be at a very slow crawl. Scientists in those fields will continue to gather years of empirical research, make hypothesis, and perform a plethora of tests before real results can be presented.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

In any case, the Neuro and Pharmaceutical Science for finding a successful solution to treat Alzheimer's is going to be at a very slow crawl. Scientists in those fields will continue to gather years of empirical research, make hypothesis, and perform a plethora of tests before real results can be presented.

Yeah, unless a virus that causes Alzheimer's, yet to be discovered, somehow spreads. In that case the speed will pick up of getting out a cure or vaccine as with COVID
EDIT: I talk trash - the vaccine would only cure the virus that causes Alzheimer's and not the Alzheimer's itself ;P

 

[MrDawn]

Yeah, unless a virus that causes Alzheimer's, yet to be discovered, somehow spreads.

There are several viral illness' that can increase a person's chance of developing dementia. But getting sick is just one out of many factors.

Of all the neurodegenerative disorders, generalized dementia had the most associations, with links to six different virus exposures. These exposures were categorized as viral encephalitis, viral warts, other viral diseases, all influenza, influenza and pneumonia, and viral pneumonia.

Could a viral illness increase chances of developing Alzheimer’s or other neurodegenerative disease?

Some viral illnesses may increase a person’s chances of later developing Alzheimer’s disease or another neurodegenerative disorder. Though a causal link cannot be confirmed, an NIH study found significant associations.

www.nia.nih.gov

 

[~ True Legend ~]

There are several viral illness' that can increase a person's chance of developing dementia. But getting sick is just one out of many factors.

Could a viral illness increase chances of developing Alzheimer’s or other neurodegenerative disease?

Some viral illnesses may increase a person’s chances of later developing Alzheimer’s disease or another neurodegenerative disorder. Though a causal link cannot be confirmed, an NIH study found significant associations.

www.nia.nih.gov

Cross-post edit LOL

EDIT: I talk trash - the vaccine would only cure the virus that causes Alzheimer's and not the Alzheimer's itself ;P

There are several viral illness' that can increase a person's chance of developing dementia. But getting sick is just one out of many factors.

Could a viral illness increase chances of developing Alzheimer’s or other neurodegenerative disease?

Some viral illnesses may increase a person’s chances of later developing Alzheimer’s disease or another neurodegenerative disorder. Though a causal link cannot be confirmed, an NIH study found significant associations.

www.nia.nih.gov

Ah I wasn't aware that was already a thing! Thanks for sharing!