Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects millions of people around the world, and although we have accumulated more than a century of research, which today allows us to better understand its genetic and molecular mechanisms, it is still not possible to develop a treatment that is highly effective in reducing the progression of the disease, let alone an intervention that definitively slows down the impact of AD on people’s brains. However, every now and then, we read or hear about a new drug that, with the help of populist journalism, makes us believe that we are close to solving this serious public health problem.
Currently the drug “donanemab” has grown in popularity, which in some news sites has been elevated almost to the position of “BREAKTHROUGH” in the field of AD research. Unfortunately, and not with regret, I must mention that the results shown by this drug, and others on the market, are still practically nil in patients with advanced AD, and very modest in those who have had the possibility of receiving a diagnosis in even the early stages of the disease (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02321-1).
Thousands of scientists are working hard to better understand the mechanisms of various diseases, with the ultimate goal of finding cures or highly effective treatments, which aim at nothing less than improving the quality of life of those who suffer from them, however, this is a difficult path, due to the wonderful complexity of our body, and specifically of our brain, which every day makes us face new challenges.
Remember, always seek the advice of a professional in the area when looking for the best (or last) treatment available (Dr. Jonathan Cortés).
Image: A scan (artificially colored) of the brain of a person with Alzheimer’s disease. Credit: K H Fung/Science Photo Library https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02321-1
Dr. Jonathan A. Cortés Silva 