New Cause of Alzheimer's Uncovered Beyond Amyloid Beta: Gene Research Advances Prevention

A new NHK special series explores the latest science on Alzheimer's disease, highlighting a newly approved drug that removes amyloid beta proteins and may delay the progression of the disease by an average of three years. The drug, called donanemab, was administered to 60-year-old Fujishima Takehiko, the first patient at the Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital to receive the treatment. After 18 months of monthly infusions, a significant reduction of amyloid beta in his brain was confirmed, offering a new option for patients with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia. The program, airing October 4th, also notes that while previous medications only slightly boosted nerve cell function, this new class of "anti-amyloid antibody drugs" is groundbreaking because it can slow disease progression, potentially extending the time patients can live independently and delaying the need for family caregiving.