KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Alzheimer's is a disease that destroys memory and other important mental health functions. There is no cure, but recent trials with a new medicine in Knoxville is giving people hope.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. That number is projected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2050. In Tennessee, there are more than 129,000 people aged 65 and older with the disease.
The FDA recently approved a second drug to treat early-stage Alzheimer's. It's called Kisunla and was developed by the company Eli Lilly.
In Alzheimer's patients, brain proteins form plaques and tangles in the brain tissue affecting memory and thinking abilities. But this drug slows that process down.
"The monoclonal antibodies that are in the new medications help slow down, retard the development of those plaques, and because of that, it slows the progression of the disease," said Amy French, the Senior Manager of Programs and Education/Tennessee Research Chapter Research Champion for the Alzheimer's Association.
While this drug isn't a cure, the development of it gives patients more time.
"This drug means more time, a longer period of quality of life, more time to recognize your family, to make important decisions, to participate in the things that you love, doing with your family, even develop new interests," said French.
Kisunla does come with health risks and the drug is costly. But Steven Danesi, the owner of Senior Care Authority Knoxville, said overall, this drug gives hope.
"The trials are ongoing, and they've shown promise," said Danesi. "There are trials happening in Knoxville now. So the hope is that these will lead to a cure, but for now, they help slow the progression of the disease. So hopefully, hope is the key word."
Danesi said this drug also gives him hope for the future.
"For the longest time, there was no starting point. They knew sort of what caused Alzheimer's," said Danesi. "They didn't know how to treat those problems. So I think now the ability to focus on the remedies, on what they believe the problem is, and how to prevent that problem, is the key."
Senior Care Authority provides consulting services for seniors and their families with resources for senior care solutions.
"What I help people do is when they are going through a process of either themselves or a loved one starting to show signs of physical or cognitive impairments, and they're not sure where to turn everybody's got this question, 'How do we handle these problems? Who do we call who do we talk to? What are the things that we need to have in place?' From a medical and financial perspective, a legal perspective, that's what I help people do. So they call me and I can help refer people to the appropriate people, and then when they're ready to go into assisted living or even independent living or memory care, that's the main focus of my business, is helping them find appropriate places that make them and their families comfortable," said Danesi.
You can reach him at (865) 396-1664 or at the Senior Care Authority Knoxville website.
If you want to start the new drug or find out if you're eligible for it, the first step you should take is to contact your physician.