SEATTLE — A Mount Vernon man was the first to receive the new Alzheimer’s drug, lecanemab, at the University of Washington (UW) Medicine’s Memory and Brain Wellness Center on Dec. 1.
“I’m pleased that Harborview Medical Center is one of the first West Coast hospitals to administer the IV infusion treatment to our qualifying patients,” said Dr. Thomas Grabowski, a professor of radiology and neurology at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
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Doug Davidson was the first patient to receive the drug that’s been shown to reduce cognitive decline in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease at UW Medicine.
Lecanemab was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Summer 2023. It’s the first FDA-approved drug shown to modify the course of Alzheimer’s, according to UW.
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“Though the outcome was relatively modest — a 27% slowing of cognitive decline and functional decline over 18 months — this is still a step in the right direction,” said Dr. Michael Rosenbloom, associate professor of neurology at the UW School of Medicine and director of clinical trials at the Memory and Brain Wellness Center.
UW said Lecanemab is approved for use by patients who have amyloid plaques and mild cognitive impairment or very mild Alzheimer’s dementia.
Those who are eligible and considering lecanemab should understand the benefits are modest and might even be hard to notice, and that there are also risks.
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Rachel Carter is a health and wellness expert dedicated to helping readers lead healthier lives. With a background in nutrition, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being.
