The world is witnessing a growing crisis related to dementia. According to the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study in 2019, an estimated 57.4 million people worldwide had dementia. By 2050, this number is expected to escalate to over 150 million, most of whom will have Alzheimer’s disease. With annual costs estimated at $1.3 trillion, the strain on care systems and families is significant.
Until recently, available treatments could only alleviate symptoms of dementia without halting the disease’s progress. This is now changing with new monoclonal antibody treatments such as Lecanemab, Aducanumab, and Donanemab. Experts have hailed these as the first disease-modifying treatments capable of clearing the amyloid plaques in the brain, which are responsible for most Alzheimer’s symptoms. However, the effectiveness of these treatments depends on early administration. Current diagnostic methods, primarily based on documenting mental decline, often fail to diagnose Alzheimer’s until significant brain damage has occurred. Thus, early diagnosis becomes vital for treatment efficiency.
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