Alzheimer's drug approved for first time in 20 years in US

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug adcanumab to fight Alzheimer's disease. This happened for the first time in 20 years. Air force.

Photo: Shutterstock

The drug, developed by Biogen, will be marketed under the trade name Aduhelm.

The drug targets the underlying causes rather than the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of senile dementia. Half of US residents have an increased risk of developing dementia - explain why.

Aducanumab destroys amyloid, a protein that forms clots in the human brain that damage cells and cause problems with memory, thinking and communication.

As explains "TASS.Science"Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the death of nerve cells in the brain. This is the most common form of dementia (60% - 70% of all cases), but it is poorly understood. There are approximately 50 million people living with dementia worldwide, and this number is projected to be around 2030 million by 75.

On the subject: The first test for Alzheimer's disease goes on sale in the US

According to a popular hypothesis, Alzheimer's disease is caused by beta-amyloids - protein complexes that are formed from a membrane protein. Under certain conditions, such compounds can form insoluble clumps or plaques that are indicative of disease.

Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of Aduhelm in three separate studies involving 3482 patients, the website says. FDA... The studies consisted of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging studies in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

The treated patients showed a significant dose-dependent and time-dependent decrease in beta-amyloid plaques, while patients in the control study group did not observe a decrease in beta-amyloid plaques.

Aducanumab is suitable for patients under 80 years of age and with an early stage of the disease. You will also need to make an accurate diagnosis using a detailed MRI scan.

Over a hundred treatments for Alzheimer's have been considered in the past 10 years, but none have been proven successful.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

Aducanumab is not a panacea, and many doctors have expressed doubts about its merits. But its registration in the United States will give a strong impetus to research in the fight against dementia, which has traditionally been underfunded compared to oncology or cardiology.

In March 2019, international trials of aducanumab involving three thousand people were interrupted at the final stage when it turned out that the drug, received in the form of a monthly injection, did not give a positive result compared to a placebo.

However, at the end of the same year, American manufacturer Biogen analyzed more data and found that aducanumab significantly slowed cognitive decline when used at higher doses.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Horns will grow, autism or cancer will develop: the most popular myths-horror stories about vaccinations

Not only COVID-19: what serious illnesses can loss of smell indicate

COVID-19 Vaccine Allergies and Deaths: What We Know About It

Physical activity can save 5 million lives a year: how and how much to move for health

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.