{
  "id": 69103,
  "title": "‘A completely new person’: can surgery help Alzheimer’s patients regain basic skills?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/a-completely-new-person-can-surgery-help-alzheimers-patients-regain",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-03T03:00:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362720/completely-new-person-can-surgery-help-alzheimers-patients-regain-basic-skills"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A groundbreaking surgical procedure under scrutiny in Hong Kong could potentially help Alzheimer's patients regain basic skills like dressing and maintaining social engagement. The ongoing clinical trial, led by researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), involves an operation that removes an abnormal accumulation of two protein types in the brain, namely tau and amyloid. The surgery, pioneered by a Chinese doctor in Hangzhou in 2018, has gained widespread popularity due to social media videos showcasing dramatic post-surgery transformations of patients. However, the procedure's safety and effectiveness have been questioned, leading China's National Health Commission to ban its use in July 2025, pending further evidence.\n\nCUHK researchers began recruiting four patients last year, with one patient showing such significant improvement that his wife described him as \"a completely new person... so sharp.\" Dr. Tor Chiu, an honorary associate professor of surgery at CUHK, hopes to verify whether the procedure, conducted under strict scientific controls, can improve the condition of Alzheimer's patients. He emphasized the importance of even the slightest improvement in Alzheimer's patients, as current treatments only aim to slow down the disease's progression.\n\nAlzheimer's disease is a cognitive disorder that impairs memory, thinking, and daily functioning, accounting for 60 to 70 percent of all dementia cases worldwide. The World Health Organization projects that the number of people living with dementia globally will reach 153 million by 2050, up from 57 million in 2021. In Hong Kong, nearly one in ten people aged 60 or above suffer from dementia.\n\nModern medicine has yet to find a cure for Alzheimer's, but it can only slow down the patient's decline. The operation pioneered in mainland China, called lymphaticovenous anastomosis, connects lymphatic vessels to nearby veins, helping to drain and remove the excess proteins from the brain, potentially improving the patient's condition. This procedure, which Chiu has been performing for over a decade to treat lymphoedema, represents a novel approach to Alzheimer's treatment.\n\nCUHK researchers have recruited four patients for the clinical trial, all of whom showed signs of improvement following the surgery. One patient, 72-year-old Mr. Ho, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a decade ago and struggled with memory loss, depression, and suicidal thoughts. His wife, who is his sole carer, said he had become increasingly withdrawn and unresponsive. After undergoing the six to eight-hour surgery in September, Mr. Ho reportedly woke up as \"a completely new person,\" responding to his name and engaging more with his surroundings. He started expressing his preferences and re-engaging with everyday activities like eating and socializing.",
  "summary": "Researchers in Hong Kong are testing a surgical procedure for Alzheimer’s disease that aims to improve patients’ ability to care for themselves. The operation, being trialled at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, involves draining an abnormal build-up of protein in the brain.\n\nThe protein build-up in Alzheimer’s disease includes amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, which are associated with the progression of the disease. According to PsyPost, research on GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of diabetes and weight-loss medications, suggests they may help reduce these biological markers.\n\nThe Hong Kong trial focuses on helping patients regain basic skills such as getting dressed and remaining socially engaged. The South China Morning Post reports that the trial is ongoing, with the goal of improving patients’ ability to take care of their basic needs.",
  "key_points": [
    "Surgeon removes abnormal protein accumulation in brain during surgery",
    "Patient's wife describes him as \"a completely new person\" post-surgery",
    "CUHK clinical trial recruiting four patients for Alzheimer's treatment"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Live Science",
        "title": "Alzheimer's blood tests are transforming how patients get diagnosed — here's what to know",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/31/alzheimers-blood-tests-are-transforming-how-patients-get-diagnosed",
        "published": "2026-07-31T09:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}