There are more than 5 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, and an estimated 15.5 million currently caring for them. For all of these millions of people, there is some new hope created by a new drug introduced by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. For those individuals showing very early symptoms of the disease, the new drug seems to help prevent the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain. This is the type of plaque that is believed to be a factor in the development of Alzheimer’s.

It is still very early in the process of drug testing. There is no clear evidence yet that this will have a long term effect. Though it’s too soon to tell, this new drug offers a glimmer of hope for a devastating disease with very few prospective cures in sight. There have already been many failed attempts at drugs to modify or change Alzheimer’s. So far the hope of a cure for Alzheimer’s remains just that – a hope.

Even after the phase three trials are done, we still won’t know if the effect will persist over time. There’s still so much to learn.

The In the Moment Memory Care program at Glenwood Place offers a holistic approach to living a healthy and connected life with Alzheimer’s. You can learn more about Memory Care and other lifestyle options at Glenwood Place.