New Alzheimer’s drug brings its own problems

MEDICAL experts are excited about the benefits of a new drug which could help sufferers of Alzheimer’s. Their enthusiasm will be shared by those who have witnessed a loved one suffering from this cruel disease, which can cause enormous distress both to its victims and to those around them.

Trials have shown that Lecanemab can significantly slow the progress of Alzheimer’s in a siginifcant number of patients.

The drug is a vivid example of the benefits that medical research brings to mankind. It also demonstrates the way that breakthroughs create additional challenges for our health service.

We expect our National Health Service to make new treatments available to patients, but this is not always easy to achieve.

In this case, a potential obstacle is the time it takes to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Lecanemab is effective only when a patient is diagnosed at an early stage, but experts warn this rarely takes place.

Our NHS, however, has faced similar challenges in the past and coped admirably, finding ways to provide new treatments to patients despite financial and staffing pressures.

We must hope that the same happens on this occasion, to ensure the drug is rolled out nationwide as swiftly as reasonably possible.