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Study Suggests Long-Term Anti-Amyloid Therapy May Delay Early-Onset Alzheimer’s

Preliminary findings show a 50% reduction in symptom risk for genetically predisposed individuals, but funding and drug availability challenges remain.

Jake Heinrichs holds a photo of his father who died from Alzheimer's, in New York, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
© sfam_photo via Shutterstock
Jake Heinrichs plays with his 3-year-old son, Sam, after his infusion treatment with an experimental anti-amyloid Alzheimer's drug in New York, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Jake Heinrichs watches television with his 3-year-old son, Sam, while his wife, Rachel Chavkin, works during his infusion treatment with an experimental anti-amyloid Alzheimer's drug in New York, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Overview

  • The study involved 73 participants with genetic mutations guaranteeing early-onset Alzheimer’s, with the most significant results observed in 22 participants treated for an average of eight years.
  • Gantenerumab, the drug used in the study, reduced the risk of developing symptoms by 50% in this subset, though its production was discontinued in 2022 after broader trials failed.
  • The findings lend support to the amyloid hypothesis, suggesting that targeting amyloid plaques may delay or prevent Alzheimer’s symptoms, but larger studies are needed to confirm this.
  • Participants have been switched to alternative anti-amyloid drugs like Leqembi, with researchers aiming to assess the long-term protective effects of such treatments.
  • The study’s continuation faces uncertainty due to delays in NIH funding and political challenges, raising concerns about the future of Alzheimer’s research.