Memory training and new drugs in Alzheimer's research

As the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer's is one of the major challenges in neurodegenerative diseases research. In an article about the app neotivCare, the Helmholtz Association reports on the importance of early detection and interventions in Alzheimer's disease. 

As the disease often begins decades before first symptoms such as memory problems show, early diagnosis and interventions are crucial to slowing down the progression of the disease. At the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Magdeburg Prof. Emrah Düzel and his teams carry out intensive work to develop innovative approaches for early detection and treatment.

One breakthrough in early detection is the neotivCare app, which offers cognitive tests to identify subtle signs of Alzheimer's disease. The tests are easily accessible and enable a diagnosis long before symptoms interfere with everyday life. The app is already being tested in clinical trials and used in pilot projects with health insurances in Germany.

There has also been progress in therapy. New drugs such as Lecanemab and Donanemab aim to break down the beta-amyloid plaques in the brain that are associated with the disease. While Lecanemab has been approved in the US, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is still reviewing its approval. These drugs show promising results, particularly in the early stages of the disease, although they cannot reverse the progression of the disease.

Together, new early detection methods and treatment options offer hope of detecting Alzheimer's disease early enough to improve the quality of life of those affected.

For more details, you can find the full article by Isabell Spilker at:

https://www.helmholtz.de/en/newsroom/article/why-early-detection-of-alzheimers-is-so-important/