James' World 2

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Dementia robs us of everything that matters. Our memories. Our connections. Our story. Every three seconds, another person in the world hears the devastating news that they have dementia. No wonder, then, that it is the most feared condition among people aged over 55.

But, after decades of relentless research across the globe, that is all set to change. 

Investments in dementia research are finally leading to breakthroughs, as life-changing treatments that may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s come within close reach. And we’re understanding more and more about how we can reduce our risk of developing dementia. This progress is mirrored by active and growing investment in drug development in the field of neurology around the world, which is fueling further innovation and drug discovery.

For a field that has seen no progress since the 1990s, when symptomatic drugs in the form of cholinesterase inhibitors were introduced, it certainly does feel that the time to turn the tide on this devastating condition has finally arrived. 

The power of recent scientific discoveries, coupled with lessons from a litany of past research failures, means there is now a new sense of urgency on both sides of the Atlantic. We now need to see action on two fronts: to reduce the number of people affected by dementia in the future, and to minimize its impact on those who do develop the condition. 

But this action demands a seismic shift in the way our health systems approach dementia care. This will take time and resources, so health systems and physicians need to be supported to manage this change.

The current state of play 

In the past year, we’ve seen the arrival of the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab (Leqembi) into U.S. healthcare and more recently, in Japan and China. A second Alzheimer’s drug, donanemab, is rapidly following suit, and, regulatory decisions from several countries are expected over the coming months. 

Although the benefits of these drugs are modest, and with significant side effects for some, it nonetheless marks the arrival of a new wave of treatments that can slow the course of Alzheimer’s disease rather than just treating its symptoms. It’s a new dawn for dementia, signaling a step-change in the way it will be perceived and diagnosed.

Despite this success, we don’t have a straightforward path ahead to rapid, equitable access to these drugs once they are licensed. Work supported by the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative is highlighting shared challenges while acknowledging country-specific obstacles linked to healthcare infrastructure, demographics, and clinical practices. For many countries, the current state of play is going to make accessing these treatments practically impossible in the short term. 

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Joey Guidone/Theispot

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