1 year ago
33
A major step forward in the fight against an illness that forever changes families across Central Alabama. Most families in our area have a personal story to tell about Alzheimer's or dementia. "Dealing with my mother's end of life situation, she was very afflicted," Birmingham resident Tim Lynch recalls. "Every evening, would start asking about, felt like it wasn't her home and needed to leave." "Both my grandparents on my mom's side, they both passed due to Alzheimer's and my grandmother was a very long, drawn out process," Jefferson County resident Joseph McCord remembers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration just gave approval for a new therapy that can help those in the early or mild stages of Alzheimer's or dementia. It's known scientifically as Lecanemab, but commercially as Leqembi. UAB was involved in clinical trials that helped lead to the FDA approval. "This is the first time that we have clear demonstration that we can slow the progression of the disease over a long period of time," Dr. David Geldmacher, clinical core lead of UAB's Alzheimer's Disease Center, says. UAB says clinical trials provided evidence to show the new therapy can slow the progression of the illness by as much as 25 to 35 percent. "Our prior medicines might have improved symptoms and maintained stability, but this shows a genuine slowing effect," Dr. Geldmacher adds. "And that's new and different and I think it opens up the door to much more powerful therapies."Doctors say the therapy doesn't restore the memory or reverse one's symptoms of Alzheimer's. However, it can offer patients more quality time with their loved ones. "Certainly something we would have been real grateful for," Lynch reflects. "I know it'd help a lot of families out," McCord points out.The FDA approval means Medicare will now cover the therapy. UAB says it has expanded staffing in its memory clinics as a result of the approval.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
A major step forward in the fight against an illness that forever changes families across Central Alabama.
Most families in our area have a personal story to tell about Alzheimer's or dementia.
"Dealing with my mother's end of life situation, she was very afflicted," Birmingham resident Tim Lynch recalls. "Every evening, would start asking about, felt like it wasn't her home and needed to leave."
"Both my grandparents on my mom's side, they both passed due to Alzheimer's and my grandmother was a very long, drawn out process," Jefferson County resident Joseph McCord remembers.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration just gave approval for a new therapy that can help those in the early or mild stages of Alzheimer's or dementia. It's known scientifically as Lecanemab, but commercially as Leqembi. UAB was involved in clinical trials that helped lead to the FDA approval.
"This is the first time that we have clear demonstration that we can slow the progression of the disease over a long period of time," Dr. David Geldmacher, clinical core lead of UAB's Alzheimer's Disease Center, says.
UAB says clinical trials provided evidence to show the new therapy can slow the progression of the illness by as much as 25 to 35 percent.
"Our prior medicines might have improved symptoms and maintained stability, but this shows a genuine slowing effect," Dr. Geldmacher adds. "And that's new and different and I think it opens up the door to much more powerful therapies."
Doctors say the therapy doesn't restore the memory or reverse one's symptoms of Alzheimer's. However, it can offer patients more quality time with their loved ones.
"Certainly something we would have been real grateful for," Lynch reflects.
"I know it'd help a lot of families out," McCord points out.
The FDA approval means Medicare will now cover the therapy. UAB says it has expanded staffing in its memory clinics as a result of the approval.
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