Breaking News Dispatch: A Non-Invasive Alzheimer's Treatment, Early Detection, and More

Leaders in Alzheimer’s research shared the latest findings at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) conference last week in Madrid, Spain, where they discussed strategies to speed up drug development and fight this mind-stealing disease.  

On the ground at CTAD was BrightFocus’ Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Nancy Lynn. She was struck by the rapid advancement of blood tests and the focus on combination therapies for Alzheimer’s during the conference. “Scientists envision a future of combination therapy with various new treatment approaches being added to therapy with the recently approved drugs Leqembi and Kisunla,” she said. 

Read on to discover a new screening method, the latest on THC for Alzheimer’s agitation, and new clinical trial findings for preclinical Alzheimer’s.

Non-Invasive Therapy Slows Cognitive Decline in Phase II Trial

Sinaptica Therapeutics presented clinical trial results showing their personalized, non-invasive brain stimulation treatment slowed cognitive decline in people with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s. The company’s scientific co-founder Giacomo Koch, MD, received funding from Alzheimer’s Disease Research to enable human studies.  

"We are pleased to support this important Phase 2, 1-year clinical study," said Diane Bovenkamp, PhD, Vice President of Scientific Affairs at BrightFocus Foundation. "We pride ourselves on supporting bold, innovative approaches, and are thrilled to see such a successful outcome from a noninvasive therapy, providing a new avenue of hope for patients with this new class of electromagnetic therapeutics." 

Participants underwent a type of brain stimulation called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, which targeted an important brain network for memory over a period of 52 weeks. People with Alzheimer’s who received the treatment showed little change in their cognition after one year, suggesting slowing of the disease.  

“We’re excited that our non-invasive precision neuromodulation therapy continues to demonstrate promise in slowing Alzheimer’s,” said Dr. Koch in a statement. “These latest results provide new additional evidence at 12 months, building on our prior positive six-month Phase 2 study, supporting the potential for [this treatment] to slow the impairment of cognitive functions, preserve activities of daily living, and reduce behavioral disturbances in Alzheimer’s patients, with no significant side-effects.” The study was featured on NBC News. 

Learn more about approved treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.

Cannabis for Alzheimer’s Agitation: The Experts Weigh In

Cannabis-based drugs are typically used to treat nausea and vomiting. Now, researchers are exploring their use as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s agitation.  

Findings were presented from the THC-AD Phase 2 clinical trial, completed this year. The study tested dronabinol—an oral THC drug— in participants with Alzheimer’s and severe agitation. Topline results showed improvement in agitation symptoms with dronabinol treatment, according to the speakers, while maintaining taking any prescribed antidepressant or antipsychotic medications.  

Learn more about non-antipsychotic treatments for Alzheimer’s behavioral challenges.

A Novel Screening Process for Alzheimer’s

As researchers push for earlier treatment, the tools and procedures to screen for Alzheimer’s before symptoms arise have quickly evolved. 

The AHEAD 3-45 Study—a prevention trial for Alzheimer’s—has developed a new screening protocol to uncover individuals with preclinical Alzheimer’s. The trial’s ultimate goal is to test whether Leqembi treatment before the onset of symptoms can slow disease progression.  

Investigators initially faced challenges in recruiting participants because of the “lengthy and burdensome [screening] process for study sites and participants,” said the speakers. Screening required amyloid PET and tau PET scanning, alongside other extensive assessments, and resulted in a high fail rate that hindered study recruitment.  

Luckily, accurate Alzheimer’s blood tests became available that smoothed the screening process and reduced participation burden for all involved. Investigators opted to use a blood test at the first in-clinic screening, and eventually implemented a remote pre-screening procedure for blood tests. The AHEAD 3-45 Study is now completing enrollment and expects to share results in 2028.  

Read more about Alzheimer’s diagnostic tests (and what’s on the horizon).

How Effective Is Kisunla Treatment Before Alzheimer's Symptoms Arise? 

For those with early biological signs of Alzheimer’s—but no symptoms—researchers are testing whether approved amyloid-targeting therapies like Kisunla can stave off cognitive impairment.  

The TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 3 Phase 3 trial examining Kisunla in participants with preclinical Alzheimer’s finished enrollment this year, and study results are expected in 2027.  

Approval of Kisunla by the FDA in July 2024 has prompted discussion amongst experts as to how physicians can implement Kisunla in their practices. Physicians face potential challenges in replicating the process used to determine which patients are eligible for treatment and when to stop treatment. The expert working group provided a framework for physicians to successfully bring Kisunla into the clinic but noted that this will likely evolve in the future. 

Get answers to your top questions about Kisunla.

Explore a few hot topics discussed at the conference:

View Alzheimer’s disease resources and learn more about the innovative research funded by BrightFocus Foundation’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research program.

Did you miss our previous Breaking News Dispatches? Catch up on upcoming oral treatments for Alzheimer’s and the latest news on Alzheimer’s blood tests.

This Breaking News Dispatch is supported by educational funding from Eli Lilly & Company.

About BrightFocus Foundation       

BrightFocus Foundation is a premier global nonprofit funder of research to defeat Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Through its flagship research programs — Alzheimer’s Disease Research, National Glaucoma Research, and Macular Degeneration Research — the Foundation has awarded nearly $300 million in groundbreaking research funding over the past 51 years and shares the latest research findings, expert information, and resources to empower the millions impacted by these devastating diseases. Learn more at  brightfocus.org.

The information provided in this section is a public service of BrightFocus Foundation, should not in any way substitute for the advice of a qualified healthcare professional, and is not intended to constitute medical advice. Although we make efforts to keep the medical information on our website updated, we cannot guarantee that the information on our website reflects the most up-to-date research.        

Please consult your physician for personalized medical advice; all medications and supplements should only be taken under medical supervision. BrightFocus Foundation does not endorse any medical product or therapy.