Donanemab for treating preclinical Alzheimer’s disease

Donanemab is being developed as a treatment for preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is an illness that damages a person’s brain. AD is the most common cause of dementia, which affects memory and thinking. Preclinical AD is estimated to begin decades before symptom start. The symptoms of AD develop gradually over many years and eventually become more severe, affecting multiple brain functions. Current treatment options for AD can help to relieve some of the symptoms but there is currently no cure for AD. There is a need for treatment options at the earliest possible point in people with an increased risk of progression to AD. Treating people during the preclinical stage of AD could offer an opportunity to slow down the progression of the disease.