5 major Alzheimer’s discoveries scientists made in 2024

With an estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older currently living with Alzheimer’s diseasethe road to healing seems long and uncertain.

But as the year draws to a close, experts are reflecting on some of the most promising advances in diagnosis, treatment and risk management that have been made in 2024.

The Alzheimer’s Association — a Chicago-based nonprofit organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s researchcare and support — shared his five biggest breakthroughs of the year.

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1. Third new drug for Alzheimer’s disease approved

In 2024, a new drug entered the field of dementia, as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Kisunla (donanemab) in July.

This was the third new approval since 2021.

The Alzheimer’s Association — a Chicago-based nonprofit organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s research, care and support — has shared its top five discoveries of the year. (iStock)

Kisunla, manufactured by Eli Lilly, is designed to “slow the progression and alter the course of the disease,” according to the Association’s press release.

The injection once a month is intended for adults with early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

This is the first drug to target amyloid plaques — proteins that build up in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, often impairing memory and cognitive function — with evidence supporting discontinuation of therapy when the amyloid plaques are removed, the company said in a statement.

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“This is real progress,” said the president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, Dr. Joanne Pike in a statement she shared with Fox News Digital at the time.

“[This FDA] approval gives people more options and a greater opportunity to have more time. Having more treatment options is the kind of progress we’ve all been waiting for.”

2. Blood tests can improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosis

This year’s research has helped move blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease closer to use in doctor’s office.

Studies have shown that blood tests can achieve more accurate diagnosis, which could help patients access clinical trials and treatments more quickly, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

“This is real progress.”

“Blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease show research that they could significantly improve accuracy and confidence of clinicians, provide greater availability and reason for more communication,” the same source stated.

In one study published this year, a specific blood test was about 90% accurate in identifying Alzheimer’s disease in patients with cognitive symptoms seen in primary health care and in specialized memory care clinics, according to the Association.

3. Individuals and carers want more support after diagnosis

People newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers need more support in navigating the health care system.

That’s according to a 2024 Alzheimer’s Association survey, which found that 97% of dementia caregivers expressed a desire for these support systems.

In 2024, the first drug to act on amyloid plaques, proteins that accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients and often impair memory and cognitive function, was approved. (iStock)

The majority of dementia carers (70%) also noted that “coordinating care is stressful”.

To help address this issue, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched an eight-year dementia care management pilot program in July 2024, called the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) model.

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The program aims to work with health care systems to provide support services to people living with dementia and their caregivers, with a focus on helping patients remain in their homes and communities, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

4. Fire smoke increases the risk of dementia

Air pollution is linked to an increased risk of dementia, according to a 2024 study.

The 10-year study, which was presented during the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia in July, found that wildfire smoke can be “particularly dangerous” for brain health.

A 2024 Alzheimer’s Association survey found that 97% of dementia caregivers expressed a desire for these support systems. (iStock)

The survey included more than 1.2 million people in Southern California, an area exposed to frequent wildfires.

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Air pollution caused by forest fires could be more dangerous to health because it is produced at higher temperatures, contains a higher concentration of toxic chemicals and is smaller in diameter than other sources, the Alzheimer’s Association said.

5. Alzheimer’s disease causes physical changes in the brain

In June 2024, scientists and clinicians published research that showed the physical changes that occur in the brain due to Alzheimer’s disease.

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“Defining disease by biology has long been the standard in many areas of medicine—including cancer, heart disease and diabetes,” wrote the Alzheimer’s Association.

In June 2024, scientists and clinicians published research that showed the physical changes that occur in the brain due to Alzheimer’s disease. (iStock)

“A new publication defines Alzheimer’s disease as a biological process that begins with changes in the brain before people show problems with memory and thinking.”

These brain changes have been found to appear before typical external symptoms, such as memory loss, confusion, disorientation, and problems with planning or organizing.

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Additional Alzheimer’s Association research and support resources can be found at www.alz.org.