W. Alvin McElveen, MD, a Prisma Health neurologist, and Leonardo Bonilha, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology and Senior Associate Dean for Research at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, contributed to one of the studies of a new Alzheimer’s drug that may accelerate a new era of treatment for this irreversible, progressive brain disorder impacting millions of Americans. Dr. McElveen was the site principal investigator of the drug Kisunla, an injection approved earlier this month by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Prisma Health will soon begin treating patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia stage of disease, the population studied in the clinical trials. “As a comparison, multiple sclerosis used to be a condition for which there were limited treatment options,” said Dr. Bonilha. “However, in the past 20 years, we have seen a silent revolution in treatment options and outcomes. I hope dementia will follow the same path, particularly if we also promote brain health by managing cardiovascular risk factors.” The specific causes of Alzheimer’s are not fully known, but it is characterized by changes in the brain — including amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary, or tau, tangles — that result in loss of neurons and their connections. Kisunla has been shown to help the body remove the excessive buildup of amyloid plaques and slow the decline that slowly destroys a person’s memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to be left alone, to carry out simple tasks such as making a meal or using household appliances or even to speak. It is designed to be administered as an intravenous infusion every four weeks.
Todd Finch
1mo
Hyperfine is excited to play a critical role in the observation and monitoring of these patients, Jessica. Congratulations to Dr. McElveen and Bonilha. https://hyperfine.io/about/news/press-release-hyperfine-announces-presentation-of-initial-data-from-observational-clinical-studies-evaluating-the-use-of-portable-mr-brain-imaging-for-alzheimers-patients
Healthcare Designer
1moAs the child of both parents having dementia, this is wonderful news. It gives me hope that my mom, who is still living, could have a chance to slow down the rate her dementia is progressing. Unfortunately, my dad passed away in January after being diagnosed in November, but it gives me hope and something to hold on to because there are treatments out there and they are being revolutionized.