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2023 saw a cautious hope for Alzheimer's treatment but doubts remain

The US approved lecanemab to slow cognitive decline among people with early Alzheimer's, but not everyone is convinced the drug has that big of an impact – not to mention concerns over its safety and practicality

By Grace Wade

22 December 2023

MRI scans of a healthy brain (left) and a brain with amyloid plaque deposits (right), a sign of Alzhiemer's disease

MRI scans of a healthy brain (left) and a brain with amyloid plaque deposits (right), a sign of Alzhiemer’s disease

MARK AND MARY STEVENS NEUROIMAGING AND INFORMATICS INSTITUTE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Some hailed 2023 as the beginning of a turning point in our efforts to combat Alzheimer’s disease. Two countries – the US and Japan – approved a drug called lecanemab, the first treatment that actually slows the condition’s progression, rather than just easing its symptoms. Many other countries, including the UK and Australia, are now considering following suit, but the drug isn’t without its critics.

Lecanemab gained approval in…

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