- A new review claims that anti-amyloid drugs, designed to slow Alzheimer's disease progression, offer no meaningful difference to patients and carry risks of brain swelling and bleeding.
- The review, which analysed 17 studies involving over 20,000 patients, found the drugs' effects on cognitive function and dementia severity after 18 months to be "trivial," with differences far below what would be noticeable to patients.
- Neurologists involved in the review stated that while early trials showed statistically significant results, these did not translate into a clinically relevant benefit for patients.
- Charities, including Alzheimer's Society and Alzheimer's Research UK, have challenged the review, arguing it unfairly combines failed drug trials with more recent successful ones like lecanemab and donanemab.
- Lecanemab and donanemab are licensed in the UK but were not initially approved for NHS use due to concerns over their cost-effectiveness, though Nice is now re-evaluating evidence for them following successful appeals.
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