logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2021
9m 45s

Why Aduhelm, a new Alzheimer's treatment...

NPR
About this episode
Aduhelm, known generically as aducanumab, is the first drug to actually affect the underlying disease process associated with Alzheimer's. Yet sales have been limited, and the drug is reaching very few patients — at least so far. It's expensive, risky and likely doing little to improve patients' lives. NPR science correspondent Jon Hamilton explains why doctors and patients aren't excited about the new drug and what it could mean for future Alzheimer's drugs.

Additional links:
- Jon's reporting on aducanumab: https://n.pr/3bDV0MY
- Jon's reporting on future Alzheimer's treatments: https://n.pr/3bDUsqo

You can always reach the show by emailing shortwave@npr.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Yesterday
Evolution Went On Trial 100 Years Ago. Where Are We Now?
This week marks the 100th anniversary of the Scopes "Monkey Trial" — where a teacher was charged with the crime of teaching Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. At the time, it was illegal in Tennessee to "teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creatio ... Show More
12m 37s
Jul 8
Itchy? Air Pollution May Be Making It Worse
Short Wave producer Hannah Chinn has adult-onset eczema. They're not the only one. Up to ten percent of people in the United States have it, according to the National Eczema Association — and its prevalence is increasing. Despite its ubiquity, a lot about this skin condition rema ... Show More
13m 11s
Jul 7
Sea Camp: Why Are Ocean Currents Shifting?
A warming climate doesn't just affect dry land — it affects the ocean, too. For years, Earth's ocean has acted as a heat sink for climate change: A large part of the heat generated by human use of fossil fuels is being absorbed by the ocean. And while the deep sea is largely unaf ... Show More
12m 6s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2021
Alzheimer’s Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating neurodegenerative condition that affects the entire family. As psychiatrists and psychologists, we often support these patients and their families throughout this entire disease process. With the recent and controversial FDA approval of aducan ... Show More
57m 32s
Aug 2023
What difference could new Alzheimer’s disease drugs make?
Until recently, breakthroughs in treating Alzheimer’s disease were non-existent. But two new drugs have shown promise in moderately slowing memory and thinking problems for people with early-stage disease. While welcoming the idea of a ‘new era’ for treating Alzheimer’s disease, ... Show More
28m 37s
Aug 2021
Controversial new Alzheimer's drug in the spotlight
After decades without progress, this June a new treatment was approved by the US Food and Drugs Administration - Biogen's Aduhelm. Ivana Davidovic looks into why this process has been so controversial that is now under investigation by a federal watchdog.Aaron Kesselheim, a Harva ... Show More
18m 21s
Dec 2022
Declining ALS Patients Are Waiting On The FDA's Next Move
For many years, pharmaceutical companies have tried and failed to find a treatment to slow symptoms of ALS–the debilitating, fatal illness also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. A potentially promising new drug from Biogen may offer some relief to those afflicted with an uncommon an ... Show More
25m 57s
Jul 2021
'Some Hope Is Better Than Having No Hope'
When the F.D.A. approved the drug Aduhelm, the first Alzheimer’s treatment to receive the agency’s endorsement in almost two decades, it gave hope to many.But the decision was contentious; some experts say there’s not enough evidence that the treatment can address cognitive sympt ... Show More
36m 59s
Jun 2021
Babbage: A flicker of light for Alzheimer’s
After almost two decades, the FDA has granted conditional approval to a drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’ disease, called aducanumab. But the new drug, and its approval, is surrounded by controversy. Will the gamble pay off? Also, a clever upgrade to fog-collecting technology ... Show More
24m 1s
Sep 2021
What Causes Alzheimer's?
The human brain is mysterious and complicated. So much so, one might be tempted to argue that it only makes sense that we still don’t have a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, despite decades of research. But this isn’t the whole story. We’ve partnered with Vox’s Unexplainable science ... Show More
29m 54s
Jul 2023
How close are we to ending Alzheimer's?
A new drug, Donanemab, has been hailed as a turning point in the fight against Alzheimer's after a global trial confirms it slows cognitive decline.One trial was shown to have “significantly slowed” the progression of the disease—by 35%.Earlier this year, Lecanemab, the first dru ... Show More
48m 39s
Jun 2021
#164 - Amanda Smith, M.D.: Diagnosing, preventing, and treating Alzheimer’s disease, and what we can all learn from patients with dementia
Amanda Grant Smith is a geriatric psychiatrist with decades of experience treating patients with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. In this episode, Amanda shares how she developed a passion for geriatric psychiatry as a means to support dementia patients. She explains how to reco ... Show More
2h 1m
Jan 2023
2:35 PM ET: FDA approves Alzheimer's drug
Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab receives accelerated approval from the FDA. Listen for more details.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy 
47s
Listen to millions of songs and podcasts on Anghami