In the last several years, it seems a new drug to treat Alzheimer's disease pops up in the news every week, and we’re always happy to share the latest developments, but never before have a drug's test results looked quite as encouraging as this one: aducanumab. In the initial medical tests, researchers witnessed a substantial reduction in amyloid plaque in the patients’ brains, and even greater, “This is the first antibody tested where the people who had the greatest removal of amyloid from their brains also saw the greatest stabilization of their clinical decline,” according to Dr. Adam Boxer of the Memory and Aging Center at the University of California, San Francisco.
Unlike existing treatment options with limited and short-term effects, aducanumab’s halting of further memory loss offers an unprecedented level of hope – and may be available to patients in as early as five years. The idea will be to treat those who are known to be at risk for developing Alzheimer’s before symptoms begin.
Even though we are excited about these developments, there are possible negatives to address. When the highest dose of the drug was given in the initial tests, some brain bleeding and swelling occurred. The next group of medical tests will involve a longer amount of time, a larger number of participants, and careful evaluation of risks vs. advantages.
Presently affecting about 5.3 million Americans, and expected to increase to an estimated 16 million by the year 2050, the effects of Alzheimer’s disease are disastrous. One in three seniors dies with some form of dementia, and at this point it’s the only cause of death within the top ten in the United States without a cure or way to prevent it.
If that doesn't alarm you enough, consider that the financial burden to our nation is significant: $236 billion in 2016 alone, with half of that cost produced by Medicare – and according to the Alzheimer's Association, slated to grow to a whopping $1.1 trillion by the year 2050.
At Independence-4-Seniors of Hinsdale, IL, we would like nothing better than to report that a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease has pushed the struggles of dementia to a distant memory. But for now, we offer specialized Alzheimer’s care, provided by trained professionals who bring increased quality of life and wellbeing to seniors battling dementia. Whether the need is for assistance with personal care such as light housework and laundry services, bathing and dressing, transportation and errand-running, or just a patient, kind assistant to interact with the senior to the greatest of his or her ability, Independence-4-Seniors can help.
Contact us at 630-323-4665 for more resources and caregiving information, or so that we can share more about how we can walk beside you and your loved one throughout the journey of Alzheimer’s disease.