في يوم الزهايمر العالمي: تقدّم محدود وجدالات محتدمة

Today (Sunday) marks World Alzheimer's Day, and scientific research continues to strive for an effective treatment for this complex neurological disease. However, the reality shows that the steps toward the goal are still very slow, and discussions among scientists are heated. Some gains are being made in diagnosis: two new drugs, Donanemab (Kisqali) from Eli Lilly and Lecanemab (Leqembi) from Biogen and Eisai, have proven their ability to slow the deterioration of symptoms in patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's.

However, the benefits are still modest according to experts who have had to rely on new blood tests that detect biological indicators related to the disease's mechanisms within the brain. These are promising tools but are still in evaluation stages and have not yet been fully implemented in all countries. Additionally, the use of these drugs, for example, is surrounded by warnings of possible brain bleeding, and their use is recommended with caution, and later through a comprehensive assessment of the medical condition and the individual's genetic makeup.

On the diagnostic front, a simple blood test was approved in the United States last May to detect biological indicators of Alzheimer's, while Europe still requires a full clinical assessment alongside biological indicators. The Alzheimer's Association has revised its criteria for diagnosing Alzheimer's to include biological indicators as a diagnostic criterion in their own right.

Despite all this, the larger goal remains unachieved: a definitive treatment that can restore cognitive function or completely halt deterioration. So far, the two new drugs delay the disease but do not eliminate it, and legal, ethical, and financial discussions continue in countries like France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, especially regarding insurance coverage, cost-bearing, and the decision of whether the benefits are worth the risk of side effects.