According to a study which was published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Eli Lilly and Company’s experimental drug could slow the cognitive decline of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The downside, however, is that the drug is intravenous, not in a pill form. An early clinical trial studied 257 with early signs of Alzheimer’s. Of those, 131 received the drug and 126 received a placebo. Researchers found that those who got the drug showed a slowing of cognitive decline and the ability to perform daily functions by 32% after 76 weeks, compared to those who received a placebo. The study also looked at the build up of amyloid beta plaque and tau proteins, both of which are signs of Alzheimer’s disease. At the 52-week mark in the Phase 2 Clinical Trial, almost 60% of participants who received the drug were amyloid-negative. At week 76, amyloid plaque levels decreased by 85% in those taking the drug versus those who received the placebo. Regular readers of my blog know that both my father and grandmother had this terrible disease when they passed away. There are great people at our local chapter of Alzheimer’s Association in Ryan’s Ranch. They also have a 24-hour hotline if you need support at 800-272-3900.
