Starting from diagnosis, through treatment and multidisciplinary patient care, Alzheimer’s disease is experiencing an important phase of innovation. To paint a picture of the context in which we currently find ourselves is Federica Agosta, neurologist at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, which has dedicated a center of excellence to patients with the neurodegenerative disease.
“In Alzheimer’s disease – explains the expert to Sanità33 -, although the causes are not known, there is certainly an accumulation of proteins in the brain which begins 20-25 years before the onset of symptoms. An early diagnosis is essential and today it is possible to intercept
In clinical practice, the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is currently performed with relatively invasive and expensive tests. “Fortunately – observes Agosta – a blood test has been developed and is already used, at least in the research field also in Italy, which allows, with a precision greater than 95%, to identify the subject to be referred for tests second level, classifying people into three groups: those who definitely do not have the disease, those who definitely have the disease, for whom invasive tests will perhaps be able to be bypassed tomorrow, and doubtful people, on whom it is necessary to continue with the tests second level. If we implemented this system we would revolutionize access to early diagnosis for the greatest number of people.”
Early diagnosis is important since innovative therapies are available, although not yet in Europe and Italy, and among all, “the one that is most advanced is the treatment against the accumulation of beta amyloid protein. The therapy – observes Agosta – is based on monoclonal antibodies that remove plaques from the patient’s brain, slowing down the progression of clinical manifestations by 30% compared to those who do not take the treatment. For these drugs to be effective, however, patients must be identified very early.”
Facilitating the diagnosis is also possible through dedicated paths, such as the Brain Health clinic at San Raffaele “which allows you to carry out a brain checkup and which is typically accessed by people who are familiar with it and who believe they are at risk”, specified the neurologist, adding that it is also important “to work to have greater awareness of the disease at the level of the general population – he concluded -, through communication campaigns, but also by counteracting the stigma associated with the disease, which is still very important”.
