An estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older currently have Alzheimer’s disease, and the road to a cure appears long and uncertain.
But as 2024 comes to an end, experts are reflecting on some promising advances in diagnosis, treatment and risk management in 2024.
The Alzheimer’s Association, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to Alzheimer’s research, care and support, shared five of this year’s major findings.
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1. Third new Alzheimer’s drug approved
In 2024, a new drug entered the dementia field with the approval of Kisunla (donanemab) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July.
This is the third new approval since 2021.
The Alzheimer’s Association, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to Alzheimer’s research, care and support, shared five of this year’s major findings. (iStock)
Kisunla, made by Eli Lilly and Company, is designed to “slow disease progression and alter the underlying course of the disease,” according to the association’s press release.
this Inject once a month For adults with early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
A press release from the company said this is the first drug to target amyloid plaques, the proteins that accumulate in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease and often impair memory and cognitive function, and is supported by evidence. Treatment was discontinued after the amyloid plaques were removed.
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“This is real progress,” Dr. Joanne Peck, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital at the time.
“[This FDA] Approvals give people more choices, more opportunities, and more time. Having multiple treatment options is the advancement we have been waiting for.
2. Blood tests can improve diagnostic speed and accuracy
This year’s research brings Alzheimer’s blood tests closer to use in doctors’ offices.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, research shows that blood tests can lead to greater diagnostic accuracy, which could help patients quickly access clinical trials and treatments.
“This is real progress.”
“Research shows that blood testing for Alzheimer’s disease can significantly improve clinician accuracy and confidence, providing greater access and more reasons to communicate,” the same source said.
According to a study reported this year by the association, a specific blood test was about 90 percent accurate in identifying Alzheimer’s disease among patients with cognitive symptoms in primary care and specialized memory care clinics.
3. Individuals and caregivers need more support after diagnosis
People newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers need more support in the health care system.
That’s according to a 2024 survey from the Alzheimer’s Association, which found that 97% of dementia caregivers expressed a desire for these support systems.
In 2024, the first drug was approved to target amyloid plaques, the proteins that form in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients and often impair memory and cognitive function. (iStock)
The majority of dementia caregivers (70%) also stated that “coordinating care is stressful”.
To help address this issue, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched an eight-year dementia care management pilot program in July 2024 called the Guidance Improving the Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model.
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According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the program is designed to work with the health care system to provide support services to people with dementia and their caregivers, with a focus on helping patients remain in their homes and communities.
4. Wildfire smoke increases dementia risk
Air pollution is linked to an increased risk of dementia, according to 2024 research.
The 10-year study, presented in July at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia, found wildfire smoke to be “particularly harmful” to brain health.
A 2024 Alzheimer’s Association survey found that 97% of dementia caregivers expressed a desire for these support systems. (iStock)
The study included more than 1.2 million people in Southern California, an area with high wildfire activity.
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The Alzheimer’s Association says air pollution from wildfires may be more harmful to health because it produces higher temperatures, contains higher concentrations of toxic chemicals and is smaller in diameter than other sources.
5. Alzheimer’s disease causes physical changes in the brain
In June 2024, scientists and clinicians published research showing that Alzheimer’s disease causes physical changes in the brain.
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“Defining disease through biology has long been the standard in many fields of medicine—including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes,” the Alzheimer’s Association writes.
In June 2024, scientists and clinicians published research showing that Alzheimer’s disease causes physical changes in the brain. (iStock)
“The new publication defines Alzheimer’s disease as a biological process that begins with changes in the brain before people show problems with memory and thinking.”
Studies have found that these brain changes precede the onset of typical outward symptoms, such as memory loss, confusion, disorientation and difficulty with planning or organizing.
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For additional research and support resources from the Alzheimer’s Disease Association, visit www.alz.org.
