Potential usage of anti-amyloid beta antibody to prevent Alzheimer’s progression
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
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Posted on February 8th, 2023
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Alzheimer’s is caused by the over-accumulation of aggregated amyloid beta protein inside the brain. These amyloid plaque can interfere with the normal function of neurons and lead to dementia. Lecanemab is an antibody that can bind to these amyloid beta proteins which can result in the clearance of these clumps. A recent study had examined the effectiveness of Lecanemab in preventing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease
The phase 3 clinical trial included 1795 participants that were between the age of 50 and 90. These patients had developed mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, amyloid beta accumulation had been quantified by testing the cerebrospinal fluid and using positron emission tomography. These patients were given either 10 mg/kg of Lecanemab intravenously or placebo every 2 weeks for 18 months. The study found that Lecanemab significantly reduced the increase in the severity of Alzheimer’s disease as measured by the Clinical Dementia Rating - Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), among other scales. In addition, by using PET scan, the research team found that Lecanemab greatly reduced the concentration of amyloid beta plaques. However, this treatment resulted in a higher risk of reactions at the injection site.
The phase 3 clinical trial included 1795 participants that were between the age of 50 and 90. These patients had developed mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, amyloid beta accumulation had been quantified by testing the cerebrospinal fluid and using positron emission tomography. These patients were given either 10 mg/kg of Lecanemab intravenously or placebo every 2 weeks for 18 months. The study found that Lecanemab significantly reduced the increase in the severity of Alzheimer’s disease as measured by the Clinical Dementia Rating - Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), among other scales. In addition, by using PET scan, the research team found that Lecanemab greatly reduced the concentration of amyloid beta plaques. However, this treatment resulted in a higher risk of reactions at the injection site.