This heartfelt personal essay details the challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia. It recounts the author’s experience with her grandmother, navigating the emotional rollercoaster of her decline, and ultimately making the difficult but necessary decision to place her in a care home. The author also shares her mother’s subsequent breast cancer diagnosis, highlighting the importance of self-care and recognizing when you need help.
Athira Pharma’s experimental Alzheimer’s drug, fosgonimeton, failed to demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in cognition and function in a Phase 2/3 clinical trial. While the drug showed promising trends in certain patient subgroups, the overall results fell short of expectations, leading to a substantial drop in the company’s stock price.
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is expected to follow the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in rejecting Eli Lilly’s donanemab, a potential Alzheimer’s treatment, due to safety concerns, high costs, and a precedent set by the rejection of Biogen’s Leqembi. While donanemab showed promising results in slowing cognitive decline, the risks of brain bleeds and swelling, occurring at a higher rate than with Leqembi, are major concerns. The projected cost of donanemab, estimated to be 25% higher than Leqembi, adds to the concerns, with NICE already citing cost as a primary factor in its rejection of Leqembi.
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved Leqembi, an Alzheimer’s drug developed by Eisai and Biogen, for treating early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has declined to recommend the drug for use on the NHS due to its high cost and limited benefits.
A decade-long study of over 1.2 million Californians reveals a concerning link between wildfire smoke exposure and dementia risk. The study, presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, found that wildfire smoke significantly increases the odds of dementia diagnosis compared to other air pollution sources like vehicle and factory emissions. The researchers emphasize the urgency of addressing wildfire prevention and mitigation strategies to protect public health.
State Senator Nicole Mitchell (D) has denied a recent burglary charge in Detroit Lakes, citing concerns about a loved one’s declining health due to Alzheimer’s and associated paranoia. Mitchell claims she had a medical reason to check on her relative and was startled, leading to an accusation of stealing. Despite being arrested and charged with first-degree burglary, she maintains her innocence and expresses hope that the matter will remain private.
Biogen reported a solid first quarter with its profits exceeding estimates. The company’s highly anticipated Alzheimer’s drug, Leqembi, has generated significant sales of about $19 million, surpassing the $14 million analysts had predicted. Leqembi, which is administered through intravenous infusions, has experienced a steady increase in patients, with the total number on the drug rising to nearly 2.5 times what it was at the end of 2023. The drug’s annual price tag is $26,500 per patient, and Medicare has agreed to cover the cost for those who meet specific criteria. Additionally, Biogen has implemented cost-cutting measures, including eliminating over 1,000 jobs since Viehbacher became CEO in late 2022.
The REAL AD study, led by the University of Gothenburg and the Västra Götaland Region, aims to identify early signs of Alzheimer’s disease using a combination of digital cognitive tests and blood samples. Over 3,000 participants are needed for the study, which will enroll individuals aged 50-80 without a dementia diagnosis. If successful, the tools could potentially be used in primary care to detect Alzheimer’s earlier than currently possible.
NKGen Biotech (NKGN) shares saw a substantial increase on Monday, with a surge in trading volume. However, no recent news appears to explain the +20% rise in stock price. The company will be presenting at an upcoming Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Drug Development Summit, where it will discuss its NK cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases and share preclinical and clinical data. Despite the lack of apparent news driving the share surge, NKGen Biotech recently closed a $5 million loan and has stated its focus on Phase 2 clinical trials for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s while prioritizing resource efficiency.
Researchers have identified a link between mitochondrial depletion in axons and abnormal protein accumulation, a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. They found that restoring mitochondrial levels or suppressing elevated levels of the eIF2β protein can restore protein recycling and improve neuron function.
