VOA健康报道2022--New Drug Slows Alzheimer's, But Not a Cure

New Drug Slows Alzheimer's, But Not a Cure

　　United States health officials last week approved a new Alzheimer's drug. The drug, called Leqembi, is the first to slow the decline in memory by several months.

　　The Alzheimer's Association describes Alzheimer's as a brain disease that causes a decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills.

　　One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's disease is forgetting recently learned information or dates and events. People with the disease have difficulty doing things that they did before. Some may struggle with joining or following a discussion.

　　The newly approved Leqembi is a long-needed new treatment for the disease.

　　But experts warn that the drug is not a cure.

　　Dr. Joy Snider is a brain doctor at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She said, "This drug is not a cure. It doesn't stop people from getting worse, but it does measurably slow the progression of the disease." She added, "That might mean someone could have an extra six months to a year of being able to drive."

　　The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug through a speedier-than-usual process. The process permits drugs to be launched based on early results.

　　The drug is only for early-stage patients and requires an injection by healthcare workers every two weeks. It is not yet clear how much the drug can help people with the disease. There are also concerns about its safety.

　　Still, "it's a landmark¹," said Dr. Richard Hodes, director of the National Institute on Aging. "It's not enough, but it's encouraging that there's something we can do," he added.

　　How does the new drug work?

　　Leqembi is made by Japan's Eisai and its U.S. partner Biogen. The drug is designed to target and clear away beta-amyloid, a substance that builds up in the brain and leads to Alzheimer's.

　　Dr. Sam Gandy is an Alzheimer's expert at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital. He told the Associated Press that Leqembi targets a slightly different form of amyloid than other drugs that have sought to treat the disease. That might explain why Leqembi proved to be successful while many other experimental drugs have failed.

　　In 2021, U.S. health officials approved a similar drug named Aduhelm, even though studies never proved it really helped patients. The move led to criticism after a congressional investigation².

　　How effective is Leqembi?

　　In Eisai's 18-month study of nearly 1,800 people, Leqembi appeared to delay early-stage patients from getting worse by about five months.

　　The study measured people on an 18-point scale that follows their mental and functional³ abilities. People who got the drug still worsened but not as quickly as those given an inactive substance. The difference was nearly half a point on that scale by the study's end.

　　Experts are divided over how meaningful the difference is.

　　Dr. Matthew Schrag is a neurology researcher at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. He said, "Most patients won't notice the difference."

　　Schrag and some other researchers believe a meaningful improvement would require at least a difference of one full point on the 18-point scale.

　　Others say slowing the disease early on - when people still function well - is important.

　　Hodes, the director of the National Institute of Aging, said, "Several months with better cognition, what's that worth to you?"

　　He added, "I think there you can get a strong argument: If I can interact with my family, be independent for months ... that's a very meaningful outcome."

　　What are the risks?

　　Like other amyloid-targeting medications, Leqembi can cause brain swelling⁴ or small brain bleeds. In Eisai's study, 13 percent of drug recipients⁵ had swelling, and 17 percent has small brain bleeds.

　　The likely reason for this is that amyloid plaques⁷ usually form around nerve cells in the brain but sometimes they get inside blood vessels⁸, too.

　　Several Leqembi users died while taking the drug, including two people who were on blood-thinning medications. Eisai has said its Alzheimer's drug did not cause their deaths.

　　But Gandy, the Alzheimer's expert, said the greatest risk of serious bleeding would be among Leqembi users who take blood thinners. Older adults commonly take blood thinners to prevent or treat strokes.

　　Patients also may experience reactions from the drug that could include high body temperature, an upset stomach and changes in blood pressure.

　　Eisai says the drug should be available by January 23. A year's worth of treatment is expected to cost $26,500. If insurance companies cover the drug, however, most people will not have to pay anywhere near that much.

　　Words in This Story

　　decline - n. the process of become worse in condition

　　landmark - n. a very important achievement

　　encourage - v. to make something more likely to happen

　　scale - n. a range of numbers that is used to show size, quality or strength

　　cognition - n. the activity of thinking, understanding, learning and remembering

　　interact - v. to talk or do things with other people

　　outcome - n. something that happens as a result of activity or progress

　　swelling - n. an area on someone body's that is larger than normal because of an illness or injury

　　plaque⁶ - n. a change in brain tissue that happens in Alzheimer's disease

 

　　stroke - n. a serious illness caused when a blood vessel in your brain suddenly breaks or is blocked

1 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 functional   

adj.为实用而设计的，具备功能的，起作用的

参考例句：

• The telephone was out of order,but is functional now.电话刚才坏了，但现在可以用了。
• The furniture is not fancy,just functional.这些家具不是摆着好看的，只是为了实用。

4 swelling   

n.肿胀

参考例句：

• Use ice to reduce the swelling. 用冰敷消肿。
• There is a marked swelling of the lymph nodes. 淋巴结处有明显的肿块。

5 recipients   

adj.接受的；受领的；容纳的；愿意接受的n.收件人；接受者；受领者；接受器

参考例句：

• The recipients of the prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者的姓名登在报上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The recipients of prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者名单登在报上。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 plaque   

n.饰板，匾，(医)血小板

参考例句：

• There is a commemorative plaque to the artist in the village hall.村公所里有一块纪念该艺术家的牌匾。
• Some Latin words were engraved on the plaque. 牌匾上刻着些拉丁文。

7 plaques   

（纪念性的）匾牌( plaque的名词复数 )； 纪念匾； 牙斑； 空斑

参考例句：

• Primary plaques were detectable in 16 to 20 hours. 在16到20小时内可查出原发溶斑。
• The gondoliers wore green and white livery and silver plaques on their chests. 船夫们穿着白绿两色的制服，胸前别着银质徽章。

8 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》