For Dr. Jeffrey Cummings, a brain health researcher and professor at UNLV, this is an exciting time in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Federal health advisers in May voted to back an Alzheimer’s drug from Eli Lilly and Co. that can slow the progression of cognitive decline and memory problems. On Tuesday morning the drug — donanemab — gained final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, making it the second Alzheimer’s drug that slows cognitive decline cleared for use in the United States.

June is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. We visit Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health to meet three people at the forefront of researching, patient advocacy, and treatment. They share what medications are currently available for patients and what they are learning about the disease. They also share information for the many people caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.

The Sanskrit word sthariyam (unswerving self or steadfastness) is a spiritual quality mentioned in Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 13, Verse 8). The word steadfast can also be traced to the Old English word “stedefaest,” in which stede, means “place,” and faest, means “to be firmly fixed.” It is good to be steadfast or firmly fixed in one’s beliefs that are positive, self-uplifting, and geared toward accomplishing one’s goals. Steadfastness is a behavior as well as a personality trait. If we practice this behavior of steadfastness in our everyday dealings it can become part of our personality. Such steadfastness shows a sense of commitment that leads to dependability, trustworthiness, and integrity in character.

In our new Caring For Caregivers Conversation, brain health expert Dr. Kate Zhong joins our state director Marguerite Ro to talk about advances in Alzheimers treatment and what you can do to protect your brain. Dr. Zhong is a geriatric psychiatrist and founder of the Brainnovation Initiative at UNLV.

Two new assessments of clinical trials pointed to the need for more investment in Alzheimer's disease treatments. At the 2024 American Geriatrics Societyopens in a new tab or window (AGS) scientific meeting, researchers evaluated Alzheimer's trials funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) over a 20-year period. Another analysis, published in Alzheimer's and Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventionsopens in a new tab or window, provided a comprehensive look at active trials in the Alzheimer's drug pipeline.

The world of Alzheimer's treatments is at an inflection point as more potential drugs make their way out of clinical trials. And on the heels of newly FDA-approved drugs Aduhelm® (aducanumab) in 2021 and Leqembi® (lecanemab) in 2023, a UNLV researcher says that 2024 is a "learning year" for Alzheimer's drug development.