Drug to stop Alzheimer’s in 3 years studied in Spain

The Virgen Macarena University Hospital Seville has been part of a international trial multicenter with its pulmonologist, Felix Viñuelaon the production of a drug that reduces cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s by 27%. This data, translated over time, represents an increase of up to 3 years in the quality of life of those who suffer from this disease.

The preliminary results that Viñuela has worked on have been published in the prestigious biomedical research journal The New England Journal of MedicineY a total of 1,795 participants have participated, according to data from the publication. Although the drug is not curative, its results They are considered “hopeful” by the neurologist from the Sevillian hospital: “The objective is not to alleviate, but rather, to stop the progression of the disease and gain years of well-being. Until now, the drugs were purely symptomatic and this important trial seems to open the door to slowing down, even partially, the disease”, he warns.

The trial is continuing and will now focus on reduce possible side effects of the drug. “In any case, it represents an advance in the treatment of the disease. Until today, the medications were clearly symptomatic,” Viñuela reiterates. Specifically In Andalusia, there are some 120,000 people who suffer from this neurodegenerative disease It affects nerve cells in the brain and decreases brain mass.

A drug focused on eliminating the beta-amyloid protein

Scientific research is focusing on eliminating the abnormal presence of two proteins present in the brain of people suffering from Alzheimer’s: beta-amyloid and the tau-phosphorylated. “In fact, this experimental drug is focused on eliminating one of these potentially toxic proteins, specifically beta amyloid,” reports the doctor. According to the study, the humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody, lecanemabbinds easily to soluble Aβ protofibrils, is being tested in people with early Alzheimer’s disease.

The methods described in the essay speak of a phase of 18 months duration with people between 50 and 90 years old who suffer from early Alzheimer’s. Of the more than 1,700 participants, 898 were assigned lecanemab and the remainder received placebo. The researchers came to the conclusion that lecanemab reduced amyloid markers in the disease and resulted in a moderately smaller decline in measures of cognition and function than placebo at 18 months, but was associated with adverse events. Thus, the trial specifies that longer trials are warranted “to determine the efficacy and safety of lecanemab in early Alzheimer’s disease.”

This disease begins to develop between 30 and 40 years before the first symptoms appear. “You don’t have to wait until you are old enough to care for them. There are three issues that need to be addressed from middle age: cardiovascular risks, cognitive stimulation and avoiding social isolation. In the same way that the functioning of the brain does not diminish its functionality, quite the contrary, low spirits, anxiety and depression are not good for the brain”, recommends the doctor from Virgen Macarena.