Brain drug brings new hope for Alzheimer’s victims

A DRUG that targets plaque build-up in the brain could be of “significant benefit” to those with early stage Alzheimer’s, experts claimed last night.

Brain pictureGETTY

Brain scans show plaque reductions links to health improvements

Tests of the antibody aducanumab have excited scientists because of the consistency of its effects which increased with higher doses.

Brain scans show plaque reductions corresponding to clinical improvements in early stage trials by pharmaceutical company Biogen.

It presented results claiming to show a statistically significant effect on cognition yesterday at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and Related Neurological Disorders in the French city of Nice.

The drug is designed to help clear the brain of beta amyloid plaques believed to play a crucial role in causing the memory-destroying condition. Later stage studies are due to start this year.

Dr Eric Karran, of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “These are very promising early results, which not only demonstrate the safety of this treatment but also suggest it may hold benefits in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. While many previous anti-amyloid therapies have failed to meet their goals, these preliminary findings back up research suggesting that early targeting of amyloid is needed.

“Further data from this trial and much larger trials will need to be seen before we can understand how effective this treatment may be.”

Alzheimer’s is an incurable disease that affects 500,000 people in the UK.

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