A breakthrough Alzheimer’s drug is bringing new hope to dementia patients, with a Gold Coast grandmother experiencing significant improvements after becoming one of the first Australians to receive the treatment.
Ruth Talbot, 77, who lives with Alzheimer’s disease, travels monthly to a Gold Coast clinic to receive infusions of donanemab, a drug designed to slow the progression of the condition.
“We’re sort of reprogramming our life now because all of a sudden I want to do things,” Talbot said.
Talbot, who once travelled the world with her husband Alan, enjoying holidays and boat cruises, was diagnosed last year and was among the first patients in Australia to access the treatment.
“I’m back in the land of the living. All of a sudden, I realised that everything was crisp,” she said.
Donanemab works by reducing the build-up of plaque in the brain, which can improve clarity of thinking.
Brain scans taken throughout Talbot’s treatment show a significant reduction in plaque levels. Areas previously visible in red on scans have almost completely disappeared after six months of treatment.
“She did have a high burden of disease when she started. She’s had a remarkable response,” Dr Michael Leihy from the Memory Centre said.
However, the drug is not suitable for all patients. Potential side effects include brain swelling and bleeding and eligibility is limited to those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
The main challenge now is making sure the treatment is accessible to more Australians.
Only a small number of specialist clinics are approved to administer the drug, and treatment costs around $5000 per month for regular infusions.
Donanemab was previously rejected for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, placing it out of reach for many Australians.
“I think it’s vital. And whatever life’s left, it’s better quality than it would have been,” Talbot said.
The development comes as dementia remains Australia’s leading cause of death, making treatment access more urgent than ever.
Images: 7NEWS
