Slowing Alzheimer's
23 April 2025
A new medication for Alzheimer's disease, already used in the US, UK, and Japan, was approved by the European Commission last week. It's the first authorised treatment that targets the disease itself, rather than just its symptoms. Lecanemab antibody, its active ingredient, is directed against amyloid plaques: protein deposits that cause patients' brain cells to die over time.
The drug allows to slow down their build up, but not reverse it. That means only patients in the first stages can benefit from it. Others who have a specific gene variant also cannot use lecanemab, sold under the brand name Leqembi, due to its severe side effects: swelling and bleeding in the brain.
It's high time for an improved treatment against Alzheimer's: the number of people in the EU living with dementia, an umbrella term Alzheimer's falls under, is estimated to be over 7,8 million – one in 60 EU citizens. With an ageing population, the number will almost double by 2050 to 14,2 million in the EU.
 | Zuzanna Stawiska |
Welcome to The European Correspondent
Europe lacks true European media: in Germany alone, there are more media devoted exclusively to football than news outlets specialising on Europe. The established players mainly focus on Brussels and European institutions. The European Correspondent aims to change that. We cover the whole of Europe and write for a community of citizens who want to look beyond their own national borders. Without European journalism, there is no European civil society.
〉Read our manifesto
〉The stories we would like to write for you
Become a donor!
The European Correspondent is fully funded by its readers. We can only produce the newsletter with your support - and work towards the bigger project: building true European media. Donate now!
With your help, we can create true European journalism. Thank you!
We are non-profit. Every donated € goes directly into The European Correspondent.