World first as Alzheimer’s drug slows the rate of mental decline

A NEW Alzheimer’s drug has been found to slow cognitive decline by more than a quarter.

Scientists hailed the breakthrough a ‘historic moment’ and a ‘vital milestone’ in the race towards a cure.

The fortnightly jab is the only treatment proven to destroy harmful proteins associated with the disease and deliver a significant clinical benefit.

Scans showed that those given the drug, named lecanemab, had less buildup of toxic amyloid on the brain.

Patients’ cognitive abilities declined 27 per cent less over 18 months when measured against those given a placebo.

Doctors assessed their memory, orientation and problem solving skills – and ability to look after themselves – before therapy started and a year-and-a-half later. The study, led by pharmaceutical firms Eisai and Biogen, involved 1,795 patients with early stage disease.

Dr Susan Kohlhaas, at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: ‘This is a historic moment for dementia research, as this is the first phase 3 trial of an Alzheimer’s drug in a generation to successfully slow cognitive decline.

‘These results show that lecanemab slows the progression of memory and thinking problems in people with early Alzheimer’s, demonstrating a major breakthrough in dementia research. This is the first drug to not only remove the build-up of amyloid in the brain, but to have a small but statistically significant impact on cognitive decline in people with early-stage disease.’

Researchers say changes were evident just six months after participants started taking the drug.

Eisai, a Tokyo-based company, partnered with US biotech firm Biogen to develop the treatment. It hopes to apply for market approval in the US, Europe and Japan before the end of March.

Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research at Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘For decades, people with Alzheimer’s disease have been desperately waiting for a drug to slow down the progress of the disease, so this represents a real breakthrough moment.

‘I believe that research will cure dementia and this is a vital milestone on that journey.’