After sixteen very long years without a truly viable Alzheimer’s disease treatment, there is some hope on the horizon, in a stunning reversal regarding the formerly-rejected antibody therapy, aducanumab. The most up-to-date research reveals that high doses of this medication do, in fact, decrease cognitive decline in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

As stated by Rebecca Edelmayer, director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association, “It could be a game-changer for the field. It could be one of the first disease-modifying therapies approved for Alzheimer’s disease.”

Biogen, the maker of aducanumab, reports substantial benefits for dementia patients in a number of areas: activities of daily living, memory, language, and orientation. Biogen unveiled its intentions to obtain regulatory approval in the U.S., with a longer-term goal of releasing the medication throughout the world.

With a forecasted request for approval from the FDA as quickly as early 2020, the drug is slated to possibly end up becoming the first treatment option to actually reduce the clinical decline of Alzheimer’s. At the same time, it should open doors to other treatment options that impact amyloid beta plaques, joining other trials that focus on the immune system, inflammation, blood vessels, and synaptic cell health. As uncovering the most effective management of the disease is a challenging endeavor, it’s probable that a variety of these treatments are likely to be necessary, according to Edelmayer.

The next challenge? Convincing the FDA to approve the medication after earlier failed trials. If approved, aducanumab will first be offered to individuals who had enrolled in earlier clinical trials, and hopefully, soon open to other people struggling with all the difficulties of Alzheimer’s as well.

For the almost six million senior Americans fighting Alzheimer’s (and that number is expected to more than double during the next 30 years), in addition to the family members who take care of them, these most recent findings may be life-changing, as there are presently only minimally effective symptom-management medications available. As we wait for a cure, we at Relevar Home Care, the Wayne County home care experts, are prepared to help dementia patients through highly skilled, trained, and experienced caregivers who draw on innovative therapeutic approaches that center on each individual’s unique strengths and making certain each individual is living to the fullest possible potential.

To learn more about effective Alzheimer’s care that helps maximize quality of life within the comfort of home, contact the dementia care experts at Relevar Home Care at 1-888-493-3513 and ask for an in-home assessment or additional informative resources.