Researchers have found that long-term removal of amyloid beta in people genetically destined to develop Alzheimer’s disease may delay symptoms and disease progression. A study published in Lancet Neurology suggests that treating asymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease might reduce progression.
A total of 53 asymptomatic individuals with dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s disease were treated with investigational gantenerumab in either the double-blind portion or open-label extension of a DIAN-TU study. The results showed that after a median 2.6 years of treatment, the adjusted mean change in standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) on amyloid PET was -0.71, indicating a significant reduction in amyloid-related imaging abnormalities.
While the clinical dementia findings did not reach statistical significance, they provided the first hint that early treatment and amyloid plaque removal in asymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease might delay symptoms and reduce the risk of progression.
“We don’t yet know how long they will remain symptom-free — maybe a few years or maybe decades,” said Dr. Randall Bateman, director of DIAN-TU. “What we do know is that it’s possible at least to delay the onset of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and give people more years of healthy life.”
This analysis highlights the feasibility of prolonged treatment trials in asymptomatic familial Alzheimer’s disease and suggests that future studies using more effective drugs targeting amyloid-beta may be warranted. The researchers plan to submit an NIH grant application to finish the trial, pending review.
Source: https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/alzheimersdisease/114764