What if we could stop Alzheimer's before it ever starts?
Doctors are starting to ask the provocative question: what if new Alzheimer's drugs make better preventive treatments?
Maritza Ciliberto, a 57-year-old retired school principal from Puerto Rico, has been receiving experimental Alzheimer's drugs for over a decade in hopes of preventing the onset of dementia. She grew up hearing rumors that her family was cursed and witnessed the tragic early-onset Alzheimer's disease that claimed her grandmother, mother, aunts, and uncle.
With a genetic predisposition, Ciliberto is part of a small group of people testing preventative treatments for Alzheimer's, which have shown promising results in early-stage trials. The treatments involve intravenous infusions of anti-amyloid drugs every two weeks, which aim to clear out the amyloid plaques believed to contribute to the disease's progression.
While the potential benefits are significant, the risks, including the possibility of brain bleeding, must be carefully considered. As the research continues, the question remains: would people be willing to undergo such rigorous treatment to potentially avoid a devastating illness?
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