A new drug called lecanemab could change the course of treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, after results from clinical trials showed it slowed the rate of cognitive decline in study participants by 27% over 18 months.

Brittany Grego, media relations and digital media specialist for the Alzheimer's Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter, said this treatment, like many others for the disease, buys people more time against the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

“These treatments are not cures, but they would help ease the symptoms and from what the research is saying, it could give more time to plan,” she said.

A December news release from the Alzheimer’s Association listed five new advances in research that developed in 2022. They include a study that showed that a daily multivitamin may slow brain aging and wearing hearing aids may reduce risk of dementia, alongside some other developments in data for the disease.

Grego also said even research performed locally on Alzheimer’s is gaining new information about the disease.

“Pittsburgh researchers are working on blood biomarkers for detection and early diagnosis,” Grego said. “That can help identify if someone might develop symptoms.”

Grego also highlighted other points from the news release, such as a study showing a link between those who have experienced personal and institutional racism and poor memory.

“We know according to our 2022 facts and figures that Black Americans are twice as likely and Hispanic Americans are one-and-a-half times more likely to experience Alzheimer's,” Grego said.

Additionally, eating processed foods is linked to Alzheimer’s symptoms.

“Ultra-processed foods ... could raise the risk of cognitive decline,” Grego said. “Eating a balanced diet, the Mediterranean diet, eating a lot of fresh vegetables and grains, not smoking, some of these things could help prevent your risk of getting Alzheimer’s.”