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For Immediate Release

Contact:

Diane Benson  

Diane.Benson@trinity-health.org

(616) 260-5101

 

Few diagnoses are more frightening than hearing that one has Alzheimer’s or another disease that causes dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates about one in nine Americans over 65 have Alzheimer’s disease and this number is expected to more than double in 25 years.

“Alzheimer’s is a complicated disease,” said Kevin Foley, MD, FACP, AGSF, Medical Director of the Trinity Health Medical Group Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Program at Trinity Health Hauenstein Neurosciences - Grand Rapids Campus. “Even though it was discovered more than 100 years ago, we have yet to really understand what causes it, whether genes, environmental triggers, or something else. The formation of amyloid plaques in the brain is a hallmark of the disease, and the process can begin up to 10 years before a person shows any symptoms.”

While advances in treating cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, have been made in recent years, nothing seemed to have worked as well for treating Alzheimer’s.

In 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved aducanumab, an amyloid-beta-attacking monoclonal antibody—a lab-made version of an antibody found in the human immune system. Aducanumab was the first drug ever approved for slowing cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients. But trial data showed at best hints of a possible small average slowing in cognitive decline.

Then, in 2023, the FDA approved lecanemab (Leqembi®) using the Accelerated Approval Pathway, under which the FDA may approve drugs for serious conditions where there is an unmet medical need and a drug is shown to have an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit to patients. In this case, the surrogate endpoint is removal of amyloid.  

“Lecanemab can slow the progression of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease by eliminating amyloid protein from the brain,” said Dr. Foley. “It is classified as a ‘disease modifying’ drug and the evidence so far shows a modest effect on slowing memory decline by several months.”

This treatment may be effective for patients in the early stage of the disease, when symptoms, such as difficulty remembering names and completing tasks, are still manageable without too much daily support.

Dr. Foley and his team have two patients currently undergoing lecanemab infusions with more going through the screening and approval process to see if they are a candidate for the treatment.  

If a patient is approved, lecanemab is given as IV infusion every two weeks for 18 months, with brain MRIs done along the way to monitor for side effects. Patients also must be re-certified at 6 months to continue the treatment.  

Health insurance plans will cover some of the expenses associated with the screening and treatment; there is no cost for the recertification at 6 months. An annual estimate for all non-covered expenses associated with screening and treatment is $6,000 to $7,000. The actual amounts covered are insurance company specific, so actual out of pocket costs could be less than this estimate.

“For patients with Alzheimer’s, the hope of staying at the same level longer and slowing how fast it progresses, so they can keep doing what they enjoy, is important,” said Dr. Foley. “While this is not a ‘cure’ for disease, further studies may lead to an even more successful treatment.”

 

About Trinity Health Michigan

Trinity Health Michigan is a leading health care provider and one of the state’s largest employers. With more than 24,000 full-time employees serving 29 counties, Trinity Health Michigan operates nine hospitals located in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Grand Haven, Grand Rapids, Howell, Livonia, Muskegon, Pontiac and Shelby, and two medical groups. The health system has 2,314 beds and 5,446 physicians and advanced practice providers. With operating revenues of $4.16 billion, Trinity Health Michigan returns $184 million back to their local communities each year. Together with numerous ambulatory care locations, home health and hospice agencies and 23 senior living communities owned and/or operated by Trinity Health, Trinity Health Michigan provides the full continuum of care for Michigan residents. Trinity Health Michigan is a member of Trinity Health, one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the country serving more than 30 million people across 22 states. www.trinityhealthmichigan.org