New therapy may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. There is only enough snow for four weeks – the ski area has to close forever

In Alzheimer’s disease, the available medications can only treat the symptoms, but there is no cure. New antibody therapies are now raising hopes.

They could be used to positively influence the pathological processes in the brains of those affected and thus slow down the progression of the disease. A corresponding active ingredient is currently being tested, a press conference in Vienna said on Monday.

“Despite enormous efforts and global research activities, 99 percent of all Alzheimer’s studies yielded negative results,” says neurologist Andreas Winkler, vice president of “Alzheimer Austria” and head of the Neuromed research institute. However, a new form of therapy could change this: it involves protein infusions that target the amyloid deposits in the brain that are typical of Alzheimer’s disease and could slow the progression of the disease.

This type of therapy is also used in ‘Advance’, an international phase II clinical trial of Alzheimer’s with the main ingredient AD04. As the medical director of the biotech company Advantage Therapeutics, Achim Schneeberger, explained, the new therapy modulates the responses of the immune system, especially those in the brain, which can positively influence the patient’s pathological processes.

Thursday World Alzheimer’s Day

The study will include 122 patients, each treated for 12 months. In addition to the study medication, participants also have access to current standard therapy. “Our short-term goal is to confirm the AD04 effect through the “Advance” study. If successful, patients would have a safe, easy-to-administer and cost-effective medication that would slow the progression of their disease,” Schneeberger said.

The press conference, which also took place on Thursday to mark World Alzheimer’s Day, also called for an open dialogue to destigmatize the disease. “Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are still associated with taboos and need a new, more positive image in our society,” says Antonia Croy, President of the Alzheimer Austria Association. (rbu/sda/apa)