Continuing my efforts to share breakthroughs in medicine and health – good and bad -, here are two that look really good.
Alzheimer’s
In early July, the US FDA approved a drug called donanemab for early-stage Alzheimer’s. This makes it the second drug to slow the disease’s progress and the third to clear amyloid proteins from the brain. The FDA has approved three drugs—donanemab, lecanemab, and aducanumab—in just over three years. Some call this a breakthrough in Alzheimer’s treatment. Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Israel have also approved lecanemab, while the UAE has approved aducanumab. Donanemab and lecanemab are the first drugs to slow the disease, unlike previous treatments that only addressed symptoms. However, there are still concerns about their safety.
Sources: News Itemsfrom John Ellis, NewScientis dot com
Heart Disease Tests
Two blood tests might predict heart disease risk better than standard ones. One measures apolipoprotein B (apoB), a protein contributing to artery-blocking plaque. The other measures lipoprotein(a), a type of bad cholesterol. High levels of both are linked to heart disease. Many doctors now believe these tests give a more precise and earlier indication of heart problems than the usual LDL cholesterol tests. Sometimes, these tests identify at-risk individuals whose standard lipid tests appear normal. Experts say these tests should supplement, not replace, standard lipid panels. Research shows apoB is a better heart disease predictor than LDL cholesterol. Up to 20% of people with normal LDL levels have high apoB, according to Dr. Marc Penn of Quest Diagnostics.
Sources: News Items from John Ellis, Wall Street Journal