A new immunotherapy candidate has demonstrated a trend for slowing cognitive decline in mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD), potentially offering a more accessible and cost-effective alternative to other immunotherapies.

With three positive and three negative Phase 3 trials of second-generation anti-amyloid antibodies to draw upon, Alzheimerologists now have more data to mine for what works and what does not. At last month’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Amsterdam, scientists pored over gantenerumab and lecanemab data, hunting for clues of which parameters might predict success. And clues they found.

93% of patients in study had an antibody response against beta-amyloid

Patients starting SSRIs and lecanemab may warrant close monitoring

UB-311 could offer multiple competitive advantages over licensed passive immunotherapies, including less frequent dosing, a more convenient mode of administration, improved accessibility and cost-effectiveness, and potentially lower rates of ARIA-E

The drugs clear sticky plaques from the brain. But they are not for everyone, experts caution

The latest report on clinical trials in the Alzheimer’s drug development pipeline points to the growing potential of anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies for treating the brain-robbing condition. Anti-inflammatory agents comprise the single largest therapeutic category with 25 drugs, but astoundingly no two are aimed at the same target, according to lead author Jeffrey Cummings, M.D., research professor in the school of integrated health sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and director of its Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience.

Newly approved anti-amyloid therapies have spurred hope for patients and caregivers affected by Alzheimer's disease, but access to these drugs could be stymied by a lack of convenient and available beta-amyloid testing options.

Up to 50 percent of people in the U.S. with Alzheimer’s receive an imprecise or inaccurate diagnosis of their cognitive condition. The tools typically used to detect the disease, like a PET scan, can cost thousands of dollars and are generally only available in places with large medical institutions. And African Americans are 35 percent less likely to be diagnosed than their White counterparts.

More than 6.7 million individuals in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is growing rapidly. Each day that passes without effective treatments brings tragic consequences for patients and their loved ones. As the debate over coverage for new Alzheimer’s drugs continues, Dr. Jeffrey Cummings of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, joined us to discuss the challenging path that led to these medicines, the state of the science now, and hope for the future.

KNX In Depth's Charles Feldman and Rob Archer discuss a new study that looks into Alzheimer's research and drugs. It sounds optimistic when it comes to the future of treating the disease.

Several studies say simple lifestyle choices help preserve thinking and memory.