A New Chapter in Alzheimer’s Care

For decades, medications for Alzheimer’s disease were limited to treatments that addressed symptoms rather than the underlying cause. That changed recently with the FDA approval of Eisai’s lecanemab (Leqembi) in 2023 and Eli Lilly’s donanemab (Kisunla) in 2024 for people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. These are the first approved drugs that target the biology of Alzheimer’s disease itself. While not a cure, both drugs have been shown to modestly slow cognitive decline.

In Seattle, UW Medicine researchers and clinicians are helping lead the conversation about these new treatments. On May 18, Dr. Nicholas (“Nick”) Karagas, MD, PhD, gave a well-attended community talk at the Greenwood Senior Center focused on amyloid-clearing drugs. “The attendance was about triple or quadruple what we expected,” said Mason Pirner, a research coordinator at UW Medicine’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

Dr. Karagas explained how these infusion treatments work by helping the immune system clear harmful amyloid proteins from the brain. He also discussed important considerations for patients and families, including how to weigh treatment decisions and how to choose between the two currently available drugs.

Clinical trials have shown that lecanemab and donanemab slow clinical decline by approximately 27% to 29% compared with a placebo over 18 months of treatment. While similar in approach, the drugs differ in areas such as infusion schedules, travel requirements, side effect risks, and whether treatment continues beyond 18 months. You can reference the latest information on these differences in UW Medicine’s Comparing Lecanemab vs. Donanemab and the Amyloid-Clearing Infusion Treatments for Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Page.

Before considering this treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, a person must first seek care from a specialist with the expertise necessary to complete an appropriate diagnostic assessment. UW Medicine’s Memory and Brain Wellness Center is among the clinics offering this expertise.

In addition to clinical care, the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center provides support, education, and engagement programs for individuals living with memory loss and their caregivers through the Memory Hub community center. It also offers resources for healthcare professionals and opportunities to participate in research studies and clinical trials through its NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

Learn more at UW Medicine Memory & Brain Wellness Center.

Genevieve Wanucha is the communications specialist for the UW Memory and Brain Wellness Center, including the Memory Hub, and the UW Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. She creates content for the Center’s websites and publications, including the ADRC’s Dimensions bi-annual magazine, monthly newsletter (sign up here), and social media on Facebook and Twitter. She is the Memory Hub project lead for Maude’s Garden.