BY DAKOTA TAIT
A drug being trialed around the globe and at the Hunter Medical Research Institute is being hailed as a major breakthrough when it comes to slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Lecanemab is showing promise in helping the body's immune system get rid of amyloid plaques which impact the neurons in the brain.
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, but lecanemab is the first and only drug which has been proven to be effective in treatment.
University of Newcastle neuroscientist Professor Michael Breakspear says the next step will be another clinical trial with members of the community, in the hopes of nipping the disease in the bud.
"Either showing the very earliest signs of cognitive impairment, so they don't yet have dementia, but they might have memory problems, they might have a little bit of confusion, but they don't have dementia," he said.
"And other people who, because of their genetic risk, are known to be at very high risk of developing dementia, but don't have any cognitive impairment."
"The goal of this study, another international study, is to see if we can actually prevent people from developing dementia or halt it in its tracks at its very earliest onset, before there's been any underlying destruction of brain tissue."
Prof Breakspear describes the drug as adding an extra six months of cognitive function.
It's hoped lecanemab could soon win approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia.
Margaret Williamson and her twin sister Meryl often take part in clinical trials as self-described "human guinea pigs", who researchers can compare.
The 68-year-old retired nurse says it was a shock to find out their own risk, but they're glad they're involved in the trial.
"Well, now I hope it will," she said. "We had no idea that we had high amyloid until we went to the study."
"No signs of dementia, nothing. Just very high amyloids."
"How far down the track would we have lost our minds? I don't know. It was a scary thing when they said it, and we went, 'oh well,' we'll go in the study and try and prevent it getting any worse."
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| Image credit: Australian Dementia Network. |
