Scientists are hailing a new drug, donanemab, as a potential turning point in the fight against Alzheimer's.
According to a new study published in journal JAMA, the experimental drug was shown to slow the progression of the disease by up to 35 per cent in clinical trials, suggesting a significant step forward in Alzheimer's treatment.
The drug is designed to remove a protein called amyloid, which builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's.
In recent trials known as TRAILBLAZER ALZ-2, the drug demonstrated its ability to slow clinical decline, allowing those with Alzheimer's to continue their day-to-day activities such as shopping, housekeeping and medication management.
As a result, both the Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Alzheimer’s Society believe that donanemab's discovery is paving the way for a new era in Alzheimer's treatment.
They suggested that Alzheimer's could one day be managed similarly to other chronic diseases, such as diabetes or asthma.
The trial involved nearly 1,800 participants with early-stage Alzheimer's. Half of the participants received a monthly infusion of donanemab, while the other half were given a placebo.
After 76 weeks of treatment, the researchers found that the donanemab group exhibited a 35.1 per cent slower rate of clinical decline compared to the placebo group, in patients with low or medium levels of tau protein – another protein implicated in Alzheimer's.
When data from all the patients were considered, including those with higher tau levels, the drug still demonstrated a 22.3 per cent reduction in disease progression.
However, researchers also observed some serious side effects, such as brain swelling.
There were also three deaths in the donanemab group and one in the placebo group considered “treatment-related”.
Eli Lilly and Company, the manufacturer of donanemab, announced that the drug reduced amyloid plaque by an average of 84 per cent at 18 months, compared to a 1 per cent decrease in the placebo group.
Furthermore, for 47 per cent of patients with early-stage disease and low or medium levels of tau, the drug was found to stall the disease for a year.
“People living with early, symptomatic Alzheimer's disease are still working, enjoying trips, sharing quality time with family – they want to feel like themselves, for longer,” said Dr Mark Mintun, group vice president of neuroscience research and development at Lilly.
“The results of this study reinforce the importance of diagnosing and treating disease sooner than we do today.”
The company added that some patients could finish their treatment course in as little as six months once their amyloid plaque is cleared.
Dr Richard Oakley, associate director of research and innovation at Alzheimer’s Society, commented on the advancements: “This is truly a turning point in the fight against Alzheimer's and science is proving that it is possible to slow down the disease.”
However, it is crucial to recognise the potential side effects and the need for more diverse trials.
Dr Oakley added: “It’s also important to note that side effects did occur, although serious side effects only occurred in 1.6 per cent of people receiving the drug. Regulators will need to balance these side effects against the benefits of the drug.”
Dr Susan Kohlhaas, the executive director of research and partnerships at Alzheimer’s Research UK, labelled the recent developments as significant, she said: “Today’s announcement marks another milestone.”
She expressed optimism about the potential of Alzheimer's disease becoming treatable, saying: “Thanks to decades of research, the outlook for dementia and its impact on people and society is finally changing.”
Dr Kohlhaas indicated that the recent results confirm the potential of removing amyloid from the brain to change the course of Alzheimer's disease, suggesting it might aid those affected if administered at the right time.
However, she warned that regulators must weigh these benefits against the risks before granting donanemab a license for use.
Sir John Hardy, professor of neuroscience and group leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute, UCL, echoed the sentiment.
He pointed out that disease progression is slowed by about 30 per cent but warned about occasional serious complications which require monitoring.
Anne White, executive vice president of Eli Lilly and Company, expressed optimism about the drug's potential. She said: “If approved, we believe donanemab can provide clinically meaningful benefits for people with this disease and the possibility of completing their course of treatment as early as six months after their amyloid plaque is cleared.”
These promising results follow similar success from another Alzheimer's drug, lecanemab, which was also found to reduce memory decline in patients with early-stage disease.
These advancements, while promising, underline the importance of diagnosing Alzheimer's early and accurately.
With effective treatments on the horizon, it is vital that patients are identified at the disease's early stages to maximise the potential benefits of these new therapies.
How Alia's experiment will help humans get to Mars
Alia’s winning experiment examined how genes might change under the stresses caused by being in space, such as cosmic radiation and microgravity.
Her samples were placed in a machine on board the International Space Station. called a miniPCR thermal cycler, which can copy DNA multiple times.
After the samples were examined on return to Earth, scientists were able to successfully detect changes caused by being in space in the way DNA transmits instructions through proteins and other molecules in living organisms.
Although Alia’s samples were taken from nematode worms, the results have much bigger long term applications, especially for human space flight and long term missions, such as to Mars.
It also means that the first DNA experiments using human genomes can now be carried out on the ISS.
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The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.
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Power: 254hp
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Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
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Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
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Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
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- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
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- Kensington and Chelsea, London
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- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
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What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
