If someone in your family, perhaps your mother, father, or loved one, is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, we know how difficult it is. Words cannot describe the sadness and helplessness you feel as your memory gradually fades and you no longer recognize your loved ones. However, there is now a glimmer of hope in this darkness. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new drug for Alzheimer's disease.
What is this new medicine?
The name of this newly approved drug is donanemab . It comes to the market under the name Kisunla. This is not a drug that is given to all Alzheimer's patients. It is specifically targeted at people in the early stages of the disease. That is, those who have only just begun to show some impairment in memory and thinking skills. In medical terms, it is suitable for patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia .
Simply put, Alzheimer's disease is caused by the buildup of a type of unwanted protein called amyloid in the brain. It's like a blockage in a water pipe caused by dirt. Before this new drug is given, a scan needs to be done to confirm whether the patient actually has these amyloid deposits in their brain.
What is the biggest special thing about this medicine?
The biggest and most important thing about this drug is that it is not a lifelong drug. Imagine, many of the current drugs like this have to be taken continuously. But the revolutionary difference with the donanemab drug is that the treatment can be stopped after those unwanted amyloid deposits in the brain are removed.
This is a huge step forward. This approval gives patients more options, and the opportunity to spend a little more time with their loved ones, with more memories.
Experts believe that by stopping treatment in this way, the number of times a patient needs to visit the hospital, the discomfort they experience, and the cost of treatment can be significantly reduced.
Are there no risks or side effects?
Of course, like all medications, there are some risks. We can't ignore them. The main risk associated with this medication is a condition called ARIA (Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities) .
Simply put, this can cause a small swelling inside the brain (brain edema) or a very small bleeding (brain bleeding) . Hearing these words can be scary, but specialists say that this risk can be managed . That is why the brain is carefully monitored by doing frequent MRI scans during treatment. If any changes are noticed, the doctor will take the necessary measures.
Therefore, if you are considering this treatment, it is extremely important to talk openly with your doctor about both the pros and cons of this medication, that is, the benefits and risks, without hiding anything.
| Benefits of Donanemab | Disadvantages and risks of Donanemab |
|---|---|
| Removes amyloid deposits in the brain that cause Alzheimer's disease. | Risk of ARIA (brain swelling or bleeding). |
| Slows down the rate of deterioration of memory and thinking ability. | It is essential to monitor the brain with frequent MRI scans. |
| Possibility of stopping treatment once the amyloid has cleared. | Common side effects such as headache and nausea may occur. |
| Reducing treatment time and cost in the long run. | This is not a medicine that completely cures the disease, it only controls the worsening of the disease. |
Is this treatment available in our country?
At this time, donanemab is only approved in the United States. So it will take some time for this treatment to be available in Sri Lankan hospitals. Also, it is a bit expensive. However, if this drug comes to Sri Lanka in the future, it is possible that patients will get some relief with government intervention and insurance coverage.
However, new discoveries like these show that science is slowly making progress in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. That in itself gives us great hope.
Take-Home Message
- Donanemab is a new drug approved for the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.
- This removes harmful amyloid proteins that accumulate in the brain and slows down the progression of the disease.
- It is important to understand that this is not a cure-all.
- The biggest advantage of this treatment is that it can be stopped once the amyloid is cleared from the brain.
- Because of the potential for developing dangerous conditions such as ARIA, close monitoring by a doctor and MRI scans are essential throughout the treatment period.
- Before making any decisions about your health or that of a loved one, always discuss all options, benefits, and risks with your doctor.
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