Currently one out of nine adults older than 65 develops Alzheimer’s. Just recently the FDA approved a new controversial drug for Alzheimer’s disease that has triggered a lot of questions from patients and doctors.
The drug, called Aduhelm and made by Biogen, removes amyloid, a sticky substance in the brain that is a defining feature of Alzheimer’s disease. But some doctors say it’s unclear whether removing amyloid will actually slow the progression of the disease. Clinical trials have yielded mixed results.
A large part of the controversy around this new medication is they cost – $56,000 a year. In addition to this cost, many experts say patients will need expensive tests to verify they have the underlying sticky clumps of protein the drug targets in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Patients could see other bills from doctors, as well as from facilities that administer the drug via IV and imaging centers for MRIs to monitor common side effects such as brain swelling and bleeding.
Unfortunately, very little research money has been spent to determine how we can prevent this terrible disease. However, there have been some studies that have found a significant correlation between lifestyle and Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Most people in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s usually do not give a second thought about memory loss. It is only when they reach 50 and old that they start noticing a deterioration of this cognitive function.
In the next coming blogs, I will be reviewing the evidence of how you might protect yourself from these diseases. Listed below are the areas that will be discussed.
Dr. Terry Pfau of Las Vegas Nevada