World Alzheimer’s Day was Sept. 21, and it comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the second treatment available to slow memory decline this year. Dr. Edward “Ted” Huey, director of the Memory and Aging Program at Butler Hospital, spoke with Providence Business News about World Azlheimer’s Day and research advancements.
PBN: How did World Alzheimer’s Day come about?
HUEY: World Alzheimer's Day is a day to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease and dementia and to challenge the stigma associated with them. It was introduced on Sept. 21, 1994, in Edinburgh, Scotland, at the opening of the Alzheimer’s Disease International annual conference to celebrate their 10th anniversary.
The ADI’s purpose was to help guide and support AD patients and their families. ADI’s president, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, was joined by Dr. José Manoel Bertolote from WHO [the World Health Organization] in witnessing ADI Chairman Brian Moss sign a declaration challenging everyone to raise awareness of dementia.
Since its inception, annual campaigns have been organized worldwide to bring greater awareness to the disease and how people can learn to reduce their risk.
PBN: What have been some recent advancements in memory and aging treatments?
HUEY: On June 10, 2024, the FDA Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee unanimously voted to endorse the drug donanemab for approval, recognizing its clinical benefit to treat early Alzheimer's disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approved Kisunla (donanemab-azbt) injection for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease on July 2, 2024.
Donanemab is the first and only amyloid plaque-targeting therapy that uses a limited-duration treatment regimen based on amyloid plaque removal. This approach could result in fewer infusions and lower treatment costs for patients. This approval brings hope for the millions affected by this devastating condition and marks a crucial step toward expanding the available treatment options.
At Butler Hospital’s Memory and Aging Program, we remain committed to advancing research and clinical trials that bring us closer to more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for Alzheimer's.
PBN: What has Butler Hospital’s role been in the trials of these drugs?
HUEY: We are proud to have played a role in the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ study of donanemab and look forward to continuing our collaboration with leading institutions and pharmaceutical companies to improve the lives of those affected by this disease.
The approval of donanemab represents a significant step forward, but our work is far from over. We must continue fostering innovation, driving progress and supporting the dedicated researchers, patients, families and caregivers at the forefront of this fight. Together, we can move closer to a future where Alzheimer's is treated on an individual basis, its progression halted, and its onset prevented altogether.
PBN: What is Butler Hospital working on now?
HUEY: The Memory and Aging Program continues to work toward the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Our research includes observational studies looking at longitudinal data involving brain scans and biomarkers.
Our investigational studies are studying the effectiveness of investigational medications with people who already have a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or mild AD. We also work with families who have familial genetic mutations that predispose them to developing AD sooner. We are also working on studies that study the real-life use of lecanemab and donanemab, as well as their use in the regular clinical setting.
Looking ahead, we anticipate participation in more studies that involve the tau protein – the partner to amyloid proteins that build up in the brain – and administering investigational drugs via other methods outside of infusions.
MAP is also working on studies involving other dementias such as frontotemporal dementia, primary progressive aphasia, Huntington’s disease, and Lewy body dementia, and has an extensive research program on developing novel methods to diagnose and measure the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
PBN: How important are trials for advancing research?
HUEY: Clinical trials are crucial to the development of new and improved treatments to fight Alzheimer’s disease. By participating in research, people can help accelerate progress and provide valuable insight into potential treatments and methods of prevention. People participate in research for a variety of reasons, including to empower themselves in their health journey or to help future generations in their families. Through this process, many gain access to information, resources testing and general health oversight that they would not have access to otherwise.
In addition, it’s critical to have participants who represent the fabric of our community. African Americans are twice as likely, and Latinos are 1.5 times more likely, to develop AD.
Without a diverse population of people participating in research, scientists will not be able to see how investigational medications affect everyone.
If we only have information on one group of people, then we will not have found a cure to end Alzheimer’s that is appropriate and safe for everyone. Education and communication are key to understanding barriers to trial participation and discovering ways to overcome them with the help of community stakeholders who are working with families at the front line of the disease.
Katie Castellani is a PBN staff writer. You may contact her at Castellani@PBN.com.
