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An estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older currently live with Alzheimer’s diseaseThe road to a cure seems long and uncertain.
But as the year draws to a close, experts reflect on some of the hopeful advances in diagnosis, treatment and risk management that have been made in 2024.
The Alzheimer’s Association, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization committed to Alzheimer’s researchcare and support: shared his five most important discoveries of the year.
1. The third new drug against Alzheimer’s is approved
In 2024, a new drug entered the dementia landscape: the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Kisunla (donanemab) in July.
This was the third new approval since 2021.
The Alzheimer’s Association, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization committed to Alzheimer’s research, care and support, shared its top five discoveries of the year. (iStock)
Kisunla, made by Eli Lilly, is designed to “slow the progression and change the underlying course of the disease,” according to the Association’s news release.
He injection once a month is intended for adults with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease.
This is the first drug to target amyloid plaques (the proteins that build up in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, often damaging memory and cognitive function) and there is evidence to support stopping treatment when the plaques are cleared amyloids, according to a company statement.
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“This is real progress,” Alzheimer’s Association President and CEO Dr. Joanne Pike said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital at the time.
“(This FDA approval) allows people to have more options and greater opportunities to have more time. Having multiple treatment options is the kind of breakthrough we have all been waiting for.”
2. Blood tests could improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosis
This year’s research has helped bring Alzheimer’s blood tests closer to being used in medical offices.
Studies have shown that blood tests can achieve greater diagnostic accuracy, which could help speed patients’ access to clinical trials and treatments, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
“This is real progress.”
“Alzheimer’s blood tests are showing in research that they could significantly improve doctor accuracy and confidence, provide greater accessibility and a reason for greater communication,” the same source stated.
In a study published this year, a specific blood test was about 90% accurate in identifying Alzheimer’s in patients with cognitive symptoms seen in primary care and in clinics specialized in memory care, according to the Association.
3. People and caregivers want more support after diagnosis
People newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers need more support navigating the health care system.
This is according to a 2024 Alzheimer’s Association survey, which found that 97% of dementia caregivers expressed a desire for such support systems.
In 2024, the first drug was approved to target amyloid plaques, the proteins that accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients and that often impair memory and cognitive function. (iStock)
The majority of dementia caregivers (70%) also noted that “care coordination is stressful.”
To help address this, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched an eight-year pilot program in dementia care management in July 2024, called the Guiding an Improvement Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model.
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The program aims to work with health systems provide support services to people living with dementia and their caregivers, with a focus on helping patients remain in their homes and communities, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.
4. Wildfire smoke increases the risk of dementia
According to research from 2024, air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of dementia.
The 10-year study, which was presented during the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia in July, found that wildfire smoke can be “particularly dangerous” to brain health.
A 2024 Alzheimer’s Association survey found that 97% of dementia caregivers expressed a desire for such support systems. (iStock)
The research included more than 1.2 million people in Southern California, an area that experiences frequent wildfires.
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Air pollution from wildfires could be more dangerous to your health because it occurs at higher temperatures, contains a higher concentration of toxic chemicals and has a smaller diameter than other sources, the Alzheimer’s Association said.
5. Alzheimer’s causes physical changes in the brain
In June 2024, scientists and doctors published research showing the physical changes that occur in the brain due to Alzheimer’s disease.
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“Defining diseases from a biological point of view has long been a standard in many areas of medicine, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes,” the Alzheimer’s Association wrote.
In June 2024, scientists and doctors published research showing the physical changes that occur in the brain due to Alzheimer’s disease. (iStock)
“The new publication defines Alzheimer’s as a biological process that begins with brain changes before people develop memory and thinking problems.”
These brain changes were found to precede typical external symptoms, such as memory loss, confusion, disorientation, and problems planning or organizing.
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Additional research and support resources from the Alzheimer’s Association can be found at www.alz.org.
