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By: Alzheimer’s Association Aducanumab (Aduhelm™) has been approved as a treatment for Alzheimer’s by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is the first FDAapproved therapy to potentially delay decline from the disease, compared to current medications that only address symptoms. It is also the first therapy to demonstrate that removing amyloid from the brain may delay decline in people living with Alzheimer’s. Approval of this therapy underscores the importance of early detection and diagnosis to ensure individuals receive the most benefit as soon as possible. The historic approval of aducanumab ushers in an exciting era in Alzheimer’s and dementia treatment and research. Approvals of the first drug in a new category benefit people living with the disease by invigorating the field, increasing investments in treatments and generating innovation. Aducanumab FAQs Is aducanumab a cure for Alzheimer’s and all other dementia? Aduhelm — the branded drug from Biogen — is not a cure but is a very important advance for treatment. In clinical trials, it slowed the rate of cognitive and functional decline. This could mean more time for individuals to actively participate in daily life, have sustained independence and hold on to memories longer. Aducanumab was studied in people living with early Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer’s who showed evidence of a buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain. The therapy has not yet been tested on people with more advanced cases of dementia. Will this drug restore memories or cognitive function that has been lost? There is no evidence that aducanumab can restore lost memories or cognitive function.

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