Hope for Alzheimer's drugs

IMPACT: WITH EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, PROGRESS IS SLOWLY BEING MADE IN TREATMENT

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HELPING HAND. A volunteer, right, supports an Alzheimer's patient during lunch at a restaurant for patients in Dax, France. Research into Alzheimer's continues to advance, particularly in terms of diagnosis. Picture: AFP

(AFP)

After decades of unsuccessful research, two new drugs and a pioneering blood test have recently given Alzheimer's patients hope of fighting back against the debilitating disease - but questions remain about their effectiveness.

Any path toward a cure also remains elusive for Alzheimer's, which accounts for around 70% of dementia cases worldwide and is a leading cause of death among the elderly.

Ahead of Alzheimer's Day on Sunday, here is what to know about recent advances to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease.

Billions of dollars have been spent trying to find a treatment for Alzheimer's disease over the decades, but those efforts have stubbornly fallen short - at least until recently.

Eli Lilly's donanemab and Biogen and Eisai's lecanemab are the first treatments proven to significantly slow the progression of Alzheimer's.