Kausale Alzheimertherapie

Around 130,000 Austrians suffer from dementia, predominantly Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is projected to double by 2050. An additional 300,000–700,000 persons in Austria are estimated to be in the very early stages of AD. Alzheimer’s accounts for 60–70% of dementia cases. Currently, there are no AD causal treatments in the EU. New drugs like lecanemab and donanemab, expected to be approved in 2024, have been tested in early Alzheimer’s stages. These antiamyloid therapies aim to mitigate Alzheimer’s progression, attributed to amyloid beta proteins accumulating in the brain, leading to cognitive decline. Despite previous antiamyloid drugs showing limited clinical success, lecanemab and donanemab demonstrate a 30% cognitive decline delay over 18 months treatment, equivalent to a 7 months improved cognitive state. However, side effects include amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), such as microbleeds and edema, with a treatment regimen requiring bi-weekly or monthly infusions for 18 months. Early treatment, before symptom onset, may enhance effectiveness, prompting ongoing research into presymptomatic Alzheimer’s stages.