In a promising development in Alzheimer's research, a study led by Washington University in St. Louis has suggested that long-term removal of amyloid may significantly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's symptoms. The findings, recently published in Lancet Neurology, indicate that participants who received amyloid-removing drugs for an average of eight years experienced a 50% reduction in the risk of symptom onset. The study focuses on families with rare gene mutations that almost guarantee the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms at the same age as their affected relatives.
The study's significance is underscored by its small size, involving just 22 participants. Despite this, neuroscientist David Gate from Northwestern University emphasized its importance, asserting that it does not invalidate the amyloid hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests that amyloid is a major contributor to the brain's silent changes that occur at least two decades before the appearance of symptoms. The study's participants have transitioned from an earlier experimental drug to Leqembi, an FDA-approved IV treatment for early-stage Alzheimer's that has shown to modestly slow symptom progression.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its National Institute on Aging, funded 14 trials in 2013, with over a third targeting amyloid. However, by last fall, the number of drug trials had increased to 68, with about 18% focusing on amyloid. This shift reflects the NIH's broadened focus as researchers identified more potential contributors to Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, recently nominated as the NIH's new director, has commented on the agency's focus, expressing concerns among researchers about possible shifts away from amyloid research.
"One of the reasons I think that we have not made progress in Alzheimer’s, as much as we ought to have, is because the NIH has not supported a sufficiently wide range of hypotheses," stated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya.
The research has faced challenges due to NIH funding restrictions and mass firings, leading to concerns that future NIH focus might drift from amyloid research. Rachel Chavkin, reflecting on these challenges, expressed the need for an unbiased approach.
“We need the NIH to be not politicized,” said Rachel Chavkin.
Despite these challenges, the results offer hope for those at risk of Alzheimer's. June Ward, a participant in the study, shared her optimism about the potential impact of these findings.
“It is exciting to think about the possibility that Alzheimer’s disease might not be what gets me,” remarked June Ward.
