Dementia most commonly affects people over a certain age, but early onset Alzeimher’s has been known to affect the lives of people in their mere 30s and 40s.
Scientists are currently celebrating new medical drug Lecanemab, which could be a potential game changer for the treatment of the disease. The drug has been given intravenously in clinical trials, proving that the drug can moderately slow down the rate of cognitive decline in early stage Alzeimher’s patients.
Experts say that although memory change over time is both common and natural, there are certain symptoms specific to Alzeimher’s that are worth paying extra attention to. Changes in mood or behaviour, difficulties understanding time or space and a marked difference in visual observation can indicate Alzeimher’s.
For example, regularly forgetting dates or judging distances badly while driving can suggest that people's cognitive state has changed.
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Lecanemab will likely treat the disease in its early stages upon passing the trial phase. It could also potentially be used in a preventative capacity for people who show tell-tale signs of cognitive impairment, but who do not have an official diagnosis of Alzeimher’s.
However, the drug has a long way to go before coming into effect. It still requires FDA approval and the risks of side effects, including potential brain bleeds, are being further assessed in the current phase of trials.
Dr Laura O’Philbin of the Alzeimher’s Society of Ireland said the news nonetheless offers an “injection of hope” to millions of people worldwide at risk of developing the disease. Alzeimher’s can sometimes be genetic, especially if it presents itself at a younger age.
She told RTE’s Morning Ireland: “This drug won’t come today or tomorrow but for people in their 30s, 40s and 50s this does bring about a lot of hope. It’s something they could potentially be benefiting from in a number of years.”
There are currently 64,000 people living with dementia in Ireland, but these figures are expected to triple by 2050. The escalation of the disease is likely caused by people living much longer and lifestyle factors, such as high blood sugar and high body mass index.
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