Title: UNC Health Pardee Administers Groundbreaking Alzheimer’s Drug in Breakthrough Treatment
UNC Health Pardee in North Carolina has made history by administering the first dose of a revolutionary drug called Lecanemab, marking a significant step forward in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. The medication, which targets amyloid proteins in the brain, aims to slow down memory and thinking decline in patients suffering from the debilitating condition.
The drug, however, is not a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, as noted by Dr. Joel Callahan, a neurologist and chief of staff at UNC Health Pardee. Nevertheless, Lecanemab represents a groundbreaking treatment by allowing actual changes within the brain, responsible for Alzheimer’s, to be influenced positively for the first time ever.
Amid much hope and anticipation, an 81-year-old Hendersonville woman, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, became the first patient to receive the initial dose of Lecanemab. While the patient experienced a minor headache, she maintained an optimistic outlook, reflecting the potential benefit Lecanemab can offer to those affected by the disease.
More patients are on the brink of commencing treatment with Lecanemab, as UNC Health Pardee endeavors to change the course of Alzheimer’s disease for its long-suffering patients. The goal is to alter the trajectory of memory decline over the disease’s extended duration, bringing newfound hope to countless individuals and their families.
The FDA fully approved Lecanemab in July of this year, specifically for patients exhibiting early or mild memory issues related to Alzheimer’s. Administered through infusion therapy, the treatment consists of regular sessions every two weeks, lasting approximately an hour, followed by a monitoring period. While common side effects may include headache, fever, and chills, the risk diminishes with repeated treatments.
To qualify for Lecanemab, patients must meet certain criteria, such as the ability to undergo an MRI and not being on blood thinners, due to the unique mechanism of action of the drug. Additionally, the treatment comes with a cost, amounting to approximately $32,000 per year, which is covered by Medicare under specific circumstances.
Dr. Callahan believes that with the advancements in Alzheimer’s research and the emergence of similar drugs, meaningful conversations about the disease will take place in the coming years. Lecanemab’s breakthrough provides a beacon of hope for patients and their loved ones, heralding a future with better treatment and management of Alzheimer’s disease.
As the medical community takes these extraordinary strides towards combatting Alzheimer’s, UNC Health Pardee’s pioneering use of Lecanemab is set to make a profound impact on the lives of those affected by the disease, potentially leading to brighter days ahead.
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