The Story of Alzheimer’s Is Changing for Good

This summer was a busy time for global Alzheimer's activities and the changes in thinking are dramatic. I personally presented at international meetings held in Oslo, Chicago and Albuquerque (see photo of poster in Chicago at the International Conference on Alzheimer Disease). In general, I would say some areas of research and policy are rising in credibility and some are falling (although not always in popularity). As my friend Arne Naess, the Norwegian philosopher (who has memory problems but is still wise even beyond his ninety plus years), we must learn to "think like a mountain."

THUMBS UP

Nonamyloid therapies (like tau e.g. Rember and others e.g. Dimebon but data is very early)

Psychosocial interventions (like educational programs such as intergenerational learning)

Nutrition (e.g. Souvenaid) and prevention strategies (like keeping active)

European efforts (broader scope in national strategic plans)

Voice of persons affected by cognitive challenges (often critical of current approaches)

THUMBS DOWN

Amyloid therapies (too many failed late phase studies)

Mild Cognitive Impairment (too variable and being replaced by pre-Alzheimer's as a label)

Biomarkers (too expensive and variable but still attracting funding)

United States efforts (too cure oriented)

Voice of pharmaceutical companies (and some of their stock prices reflect it)

The latest breaking news is of the approval of generic forms of razadyne. This cholinesterase inhibitor was the third one approved in the United States by the FDA. Most experts believe that there is little to choose in terms of efficacy or safety among the three that our currently being used today. Hence the pricing of the generics will critically determine what happens to the price and use of all drugs in this class, and perhaps others as well.

For further information about these trends see themythofalzheimers.com