Preprint on Alzheimer’s drug deaths ignites dispute among authors
“Infighting among a group of prominent Alzheimer’s disease researchers has led to the withdrawal of a preprint they co-authored, which suggested a new Alzheimer’s drug markedly increases the risk of death. One scientist involved in the work charges the senior author failed to seek the go-ahead from his co-authors before posting an edited version of the article to a preprint server.”
“As Science noted in its story on the retracted paper, scientists are still debating whether the amyloid theory is viable. The skeptics cite the fraudulent research and lack of a genuine breakthrough; supporters can point to this new class of drugs including donanemab that have led to some improvement in some patients.”
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/355108/alzheimers-disease-drug-approval-research-retraction
“Last week, a panel of independent advisers to the FDA unanimously voted in support of Eli Lilly’s donanemab, a competitor in the same class of drugs that target amyloid plaques in the brain. The FDA is expected to decide on whether to approve the drug by the end of the year.
Life expectancies around the world have surged in recent decades, increasingly putting people at risk of dementia. About one in nine seniors has Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of the condition, which works out to some seven million Americans.”
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/two-better-one-alzheimer-market-110000384.html
“Get ready to focus on your brain, because according to the AAN, the era of preventive neurology has arrived. In fact, the academy is hoping that all Americans will be on the healthy brain train by 2050.
“It’s a brain health revolution,” Rost said. “We want to help the public understand that a lifetime of health begins with brain health.”
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/12/health/brain-checkup-wellness/index.html
Poignant audio excerpt by Amy Bloom, about Alzheimer’s Disease. Worth a listen.
Amy Bloom tells the story of her husband, Brian, getting Alzheimer’s and wanting assisted suicide. Her search to find a way to do that led her to Dignitas, in Switzerland. Hear this intimate and frank account of the experience they go through, excerpted from her book, IN LOVE. (39 minutes)
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/779/ends-of-the-earth
Link to the associated book, In Love
https://www.penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/book/677454/in-love/
“The long-awaited era of disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease has finally arrived and will substantially impact how the disease is perceived and managed, although these new treatments will pose challenges for equitable access. The drugs closest to widespread clinical implementation are lecanemab and donanemab—intravenous monoclonal antibodies that remove β-amyloid plaques from the brain and can slow cognitive and functional decline.”
Donanemab appears to be the ‘easier’ choice. MMSE 20-28, Monthly Infusion (vs q2Wk), Stop when Amyloid PET is negative. Probably need to get APOE on these patients.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00274-0
Contact Dr. Varipapa’s office if you are interested in exploring this option.
CNMRI: Neurology, Sleep Medicine, MRI 