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Dr Emer MacSweeney, CEO of Re:Cognition Health, has shared with Healthcare World why recent developments in Alzheimer’s treatment mark a major breakthrough in neurology.
Alzheimer’s disease, long considered an untreatable and inevitably progressive condition, is now at the centre of pioneering advances. Monoclonal antibody therapies such as lecanemab (Leqembi™) and donanemab (Kisunla™), have been approved in both the UK and the US for people with mild cognitive impairment and early-stage Alzheimer’s. These treatments, now available at Re:Cognition Health’s clinics, are designed to target amyloid proteins in the brain, slowing the progression of the disease rather than simply managing symptoms.
Dr MacSweeney, a Consultant Interventional Neuroradiologist, co-founded Re:Cognition Health to improve access to accurate diagnosis and cutting-edge treatments. With ten centres across the UK and US, Re:Cognition offers patients the opportunity to join global clinical trials and receive newly approved therapies. In 2023 alone, over 10,000 patients were seen across their network.
Central to these new therapies is the use of biomarkers, detectable signs of disease such as amyloid and tau protein build-up—which can now be identified years before symptoms appear. This allows for earlier, proactive treatment, potentially delaying or even preventing the onset of dementia symptoms.
While these drugs are not cures, their impact is significant. Clinical trials show that they not only reduce toxic amyloid levels but also slow cognitive decline. The key, Dr MacSweeney stresses, is early diagnosis. “If you can access treatment early, you may be able to stay mild in terms of your symptoms,” she says.
Looking ahead, regular testing for Alzheimer’s biomarkers could become part of routine health checks by mid-life. Preventative treatments—even vaccines—are already being trialled in individuals with no symptoms but elevated biomarkers. This opens the possibility of stopping Alzheimer’s before it begins.
Lifestyle factors also play a crucial role. Diet, exercise, sleep and cognitive stimulation are powerful modifiable risk factors that should not be overlooked.
For those with mild cognitive symptoms, now is a time of hope. Thanks to scientific progress and clinical accessibility, the future of Alzheimer’s care is promising.
