World Alzheimer’s Day, observed annually on September 21, unites the global community to raise awareness and challenge the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s disease. The theme of World Alzheimer’s Day 2024 is “Time to Act on Dementia, Time to Act on Alzheimer’s.” This theme will reflect ongoing efforts to ensure that individuals living with dementia, their caregivers and their families are supported.
This year, the Alzheimer’s Association aims to encourage public action through fundraising, sharing essential resources and starting conversations about dementia care and support.
World Alzheimer’s Day 2024: New Treatments and Promising Investigational Therapies
Alzheimer’s research has seen significant breakthroughs in 2024. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Kisunla (donanemab-azbt), a treatment for patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia caused by Alzheimer’s. Kisunla, administered as a four-week intravenous (IV) infusion, showed notable reductions in cognitive decline compared to placebo. It works by targeting amyloid plaques in the brain, a key feature of Alzheimer’s progression. However, Kisunla carries a risk of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), particularly in APOE4/4 carriers. To mitigate this, genetic testing for APOE4 is recommended before treatment.
Another promising therapy is ALZ-801 (valiltramiprosate), an oral, disease-modifying drug in Phase III development. The APOLLOE4 trial targets APOE4/4 homozygotes, a high-risk group with elevated amyloid levels. New data showed encouraging results, with no increase in ARIA and successful blocking of amyloid oligomer formation at the clinical dose. ALZ-801, if successful, may offer a safer alternative to IV treatments like Kisunla for APOE4/4 carriers, who are more prone to adverse events from anti-amyloid therapies.
Both Kisunla and ALZ-801 reflect a growing trend toward using biomarkers to personalize Alzheimer’s treatment. Advances in biomarker research, such as detecting amyloid buildup before symptoms arise, enable earlier diagnoses and more targeted therapies, leading to improved patient outcomes and greater precision in care.
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Efforts are also being made to increase diversity in Alzheimer’s clinical trials. Studies like ALUMNI AD emphasize improving access to underrepresented populations by simplifying prescreening processes and establishing clinical sites in underserved areas. These steps are crucial for ensuring trial results are broadly applicable and address the unique needs of diverse patient groups.
In addition to these therapies, IGC Pharma also released data on IGC-AD1, a drug that targets tau tangles and shows potential for improving spatial memory in Alzheimer’s patients. Preclinical studies demonstrated that IGC-AD1 could reduce tau pathology and improve cognitive function, particularly in spatial memory tasks. Currently in Phase II trials, IGC-AD1 is being studied as both a disease-modifying treatment and a therapy to alleviate symptoms like agitation.
Also, making its debut as one of the very few oral treatments for Alzheimer’s, Zunveyl (benzgalantamine) received FDA approval in 2024. Designed to enhance cognitive function while reducing gastrointestinal side effects, Zunveyl provides a new option for patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease, offering improved tolerability compared to other therapies.
Alzheimer’s Incidence and an Aging Population
The rising prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease is closely linked to the aging population. According to a special report by the Alzheimer’s Association, the number of individuals aged 85 and above in the US — those at the highest risk of Alzheimer’s — is expected to reach 6.7 million by 2060. This demographic shift intensifies the healthcare burden, further highlighting the urgent need for treatments that can slow or prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Including older adults in clinical trials is critical, given their heightened vulnerability to Alzheimer’s. By expanding the participation of this group, researchers can better ensure treatments address the complexities of aging, such as comorbidities and unique health challenges.
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