Most people with atypical Alzheimer's may be ineligible for new therapies
Many people with less common forms of Alzheimer's disease may not qualify for newer anti-amyloid treatments designed to slow the disease, according to a study published Aug. 5, 2026, in Neurology.
A study published in Neurology on August 5, 2026, has revealed that many individuals with atypical Alzheimer's disease may not be eligible for new anti-amyloid therapies. Atypical Alzheimer's, which impacts thinking, language, or vision rather than memory, is often underrecognized and underrepresented in clinical trials. The research, conducted by Dror Shir of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, found that 70% to 85% of people with atypical Alzheimer's would not meet eligibility criteria for treatments like lecanemab and donanemab.
These therapies are typically given early in the disease, often at the first sign of memory problems. The main reason for exclusion was poor performance on cognitive screening tests, accounting for 50% to 67% of the cases. Other factors contributing to ineligibility included brain imaging findings and disease severity, with 19% to 23% of participants having moderate or severe dementia.
The study suggests a potential mismatch between how Alzheimer's severity is measured and how atypical Alzheimer's presents, as current tools might overestimate the functional stage of the disease.
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