Aducanumab: a new drug for Alzheimer's disease

• US Food and Drug Administration has approved Biogen’s Aducanumab (Aduhelm), the first drug to target an underlying cause of Alzheimer’s disease.
• There are 30 million people suffering from Alzheimer's disease globally. Of them, about 6 million are in the US,
• Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and contributes 60-70 percent of the cases.

• The Drug was Tested on patients who were in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, not on moderate or severe cases.

How it works:

• Aduhelm, is a monoclonal (referring to cloning of unique immunity cell) antibody that reduces amyloid-beta, which is a protein that leads to plaque formation in the brain.
• Plaque formation happens due to the accumulation of debris in the brain from neuron breakdown.
• The drug slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, allowing patients to remain as self-sufficient as possible for as long as possible.
• It is not a cure.

Side effects:

• Brain swelling, due to high dose
• Headache
• Cost: about $56,000 per year

What is Alzheimer’s disease

• Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.
• Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases.
• According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities