According to the International Alzheimer's Organization, more than 50 million people suffer from it and it is a figure that is increasing, which could reach 139 million affected in the year 2050. In general, it is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age. , despite the fact that more and more early onset cases are detected.
Despite the large number of studies carried out and advances in treatments that slow the progression of the disease, Alzheimer's currently has no cure and remains an enigma for the scientific community, since the underlying cause of this neurological condition is not fully understood.
However, researchers have hope in a new drug that was approved in June by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for people in the early stages of the disease. These results confirm the importance of early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer. The significant change that this drug produces on the course of the disease will be relevant for people who suffer from it, especially in those early phases in which they will be able to enjoy a more autonomous, more satisfying and higher quality life for longer.
Although this disease gradually deteriorates memory and thinking skills, and goes through seven stages - ranging from no symptoms to severe loss of abilities - experts believe there may be a lighthouse with this new medication.
Aducanumab: How does this monoclonal antibody work?
The results of the phase III clinical trial suggest that it could slow deterioration by approximately 27% over a period of 18 months. And while the benefits may be modest, the drug's approval is considered a milestone because it is the only approved therapy that addresses the "underlying disease process" rather than simply the symptoms of the brain disorder, the FDA said in its approval.
The medication - which must be administered intravenously every two weeks - is a monoclonal antibody directed against a protein called beta-amyloid, which clumps together to form deposits in the brain that the body cannot eliminate, and which ends up causing the death of neurons and brain shrinkage. This causes memory loss and an increasing inability to perform everyday tasks.
Researchers believe it may be the first drug to offer a true treatment option for people with Alzheimer's if the drug is given over a longer period of time, so they are working tirelessly to better understand its causes and develop innovative therapies.
This September 21, on World Alzheimer's Day, we support new research and remember that prevention and early diagnosis continue to be the best weapons in the fight against this disease.
