Breakthrough: Experimental Drug Successfully Prevents Alzheimer's-Related Dementia

A pioneering study reveals that an experimental drug that removes amyloid plaques from the brain can reduce the risk of developing dementia by up to 50% in people with genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's.

The research, published in The Lancet Neurology, demonstrates for the first time in a clinical trial that preventive treatment years before the onset of symptoms can significantly delay the onset of the disease.

"All participants in this study were destined to develop Alzheimer's, but some have not yet shown symptoms. We don't know how long they will remain symptom-free, but it could be years or even decades," said Dr. Randall J. Bateman, lead author.

These findings open the door to future preventive therapies that could give millions of people more years of cognitively healthy life.