At OHSU, researchers test a promising Alzheimer’s drug — and search for a cause - Oregon Public Broadcasting

Now, Oregon Health & Science University is participating in one of the first studies that tries to intervene earlier, with healthy 55- to 80-year-olds who are at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease as they age.

While clinical trials happen all the time, this one comes at a moment when the scientists focused on Alzheimer’s research are questioning whether the dominant theory of what causes the disease, known as the amyloid hypothesis, might be wrong.

Some scientists think lecanemab and other anti-amyloids under development will work better if they are given to people before they begin to display typical Alzheimer’s symptoms, like memory loss.

But on a November day last fall, wearing jeans and stylish dark green tennis shoes that matched her sweater, she looked a lot younger.

This approach — testing a preventative treatment in a long trial with a drug that needs to be given through an IV and can have very serious side effects — it’s a lot to ask of study participants.

They’ve been the focus of most research, but some scientists think the plaques are a red herring, or are even a part of the body’s effort to protect brain cells from damage.