Why is there no cure for Alzheimer's yet?

A daughter who has not forgotten the day her mother couldn't remember her. I always knew that she knew we belonged to her. A wife and mom, who savers each minute she can recall. If I could freeze just even today, that would be awesome. Every day loved ones watch as a memory-roving disease takes their friend or sibling or parent. The person they knew fades away. I'll still

called amyloid beta. Over time it can build up into plaques across the brain and lead to speech, thought, and memory loss. Another protein called tau can build and tangle up eventually killing brain cells. But doctors and scientists aren't sure why either happens. There are other theories about Alzheimer's root cause like brain inflammation or conditions related to diabetes. Experts say researchers must develop a wider spectrum of

treatments. There's no doubt that this disease is complicated and there are more causes than just amyloid plaques. So, anti-tow therapies, anti-inflammatory patient therapies, so many other things have to be explored and will absolutely be required to be used together to really make a dent in this disease in the near future. Scientists were hopeful that anti-amyloid drugs would lead to a cure, but many trials for treatments

have failed over the years. A recent example, June 2022, drug makers Genentech and Roche announced their drug, Crenezamab, did not slow nor prevent cognitive decline in its studies participants. Neurologist Dennis Selko with Harvard Medical School said the trials were quote, fraught with missteps from patient selection to ending the trials too early. He believes it's important to keep developing amyloid fighting drugs. Still, scientists are struggling to

overcome what's called the blood brain barrier. The barrier is like the castle wall for our brain, defending it from disease causing pathogens and other toxins in our blood. The barrier works so well, it's kept a lot of potential drug treatments from reaching the brain, but there's been progress. Two Alzheimer's drugs have hit the market in the past year and a half. The first treatment since 2003,

and the first looking to target the cause, not Alzheimer's symptoms, they've brought both criticism and hope. This gives our families hope that they can slow cognitive decline and have more quality time with their loved one before it's in the late stages of Alzheimer's. Under the brand name, AgiHelm. This January, the FDA gave accelerated approval to Lecanemab, brand name Lecambi. They both work by attacking amyloid plaques

at different stages of plaque development. Studies show Lecambi slowed cognitive decline by 27% after 18 months compared to those who had a placebo. And the FDA said in brain scans, AgiHelm showed to reduce the number of amyloid plaques. But some experts like neurologist Dr. Andrew Budson think treatments like these are too risky. In 2021, he shared his thoughts on AgiHelm. I would not recommend or prescribe

this medication. And the reason is that side effects were very common. Approximately 30% of individuals had brain swelling. Another main criticism, both drugs are costly for patients, costing over $26,000 just for the med. In an op-ed for the conversation Todd Gold, who has studied Alzheimer's for over 30 years, noted clinical trials are also too expensive and too long. He adds it's difficult for drug manufacturers to

justify risking billions of dollars on therapies that may not work. Scientists are also trying to figure out the timing of when to start the drugs, considering Alzheimer's can develop 20 years before symptom show. Experts like Stephanie Monroe with us against Alzheimer's believe the only way to find a cure is to catch the disease before it forms. Scientists are now looking for people who are not being

diagnosed yet with Alzheimer's in new Lecendi research. It's called the Ahead Study. Rather than working to treat symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, like memory loss and agitation and things like that, it's trying to get ahead of Alzheimer's disease to try to prevent Alzheimer's disease from its symptoms, to trying to delay the actual onset of full Alzheimer's disease. Right now, drugs like AgiHelm in Lecendi will only help

people who seek treatment as soon as they experience signs of thought or memory loss. And a survey from the Alzheimer's Association found 60% of respondents would not see a doctor for signs of mild cognitive impairment. So for now, doctors say prevention is the best medicine. Avoiding excess sugars, eating a lot of healthy fats, exercising to get your heart rate up regularly, and then making sure to

stay connected and keep your brain active. Desperate to avoid the same battles her mother fought. Connie Lesco enrolled in a study that tests whether she is at a higher genetic risk for Alzheimer's. Children have to decide whether to take an experimental drug that's on the FDA's fast track for approval later this year. People must participate in clinical trials and not fear them. The patients like Pam

Montana are long past the point of prevention, making what time, thoughts, and memories she has left more valuable than ever. That's really all I want. I just want time. Lindsay Thes, Scripps News.