A new, extensive analysis has cast doubt on the real effectiveness of several new Alzheimer's drugs, which were previously hailed as a step towards "ending the disease."
Treatments such as donanemab and lecanemab have shown in clinical studies that they can slow cognitive decline in the early stages of the disease – a significant achievement, as they directly affect the disease process for the first time.
However, a large review by the Cochrane Collaboration, which included 17 studies with over 20,000 patients, concludes that this effect is too small to be felt in patients' daily lives.
These drugs work by targeting and removing amyloid protein from the brain, which is linked to the development of Alzheimer's. But the researchers stress that the slowing of disease progression is "well below" the level that would lead to significant clinical improvement.
In addition to limited benefits, the treatments are also associated with risks, such as swelling and bleeding in the brain, and require regular infusions every two to four weeks.
The cost is also very high – running into tens of thousands of pounds a year – making them unaffordable for most patients. For this reason, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has so far not included these treatments in the British public health system.
One of the study's authors, Professor Edo Richard, warns that these therapies can be tiring for patients without bringing significant practical benefits.
The findings are also supported by early critics of these drugs, such as Professor Robert Howard, who argues that their effectiveness has been exaggerated.
However, not everyone agrees with this conclusion. Some experts criticize the analysis for mixing older, unsuccessful drugs with newer ones that have shown more promising results.
Professor Bart De Strooper called the analysis unclear, stressing that the new treatments offer "modest but real benefits".
Richard Oakley from the Alzheimer's Association also emphasizes that the results should be interpreted with caution: not all therapies that target amyloid are ineffective, and some of them have shown small but significant improvements.
In conclusion, while these drugs represent a step forward in the treatment of Alzheimer's, their impact remains limited and the debate over their real value continues. /GazetaExpress/
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