‘Hope': Huge leap in dementia treatment
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved a new drug tipped to revolutionise the treatment of hundreds of thousands of Australians suffering through early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
The breakthrough therapy called Kisunla, also known as donanemab, is designed to slow cognitive decline in patients by clearing amyloid plaques from the brain.
Frank Freschi, 77, from Melbourne, took the treatment as part of a clinical trial and said he hoped the drug could give him more time to enjoy with his grandchildren.
'I used to be able to remember lots of things, now I can remember what I did 40 years ago but not what I did 40 hours ago,' he said.
'Accessing an amyloid targeting therapy has meant holding onto the hope that I'm a little bit in control of my life, of what's happening to me.
'I'm also hoping that one day I will have helped medical science to produce a drug that will work for many people.
'And, selfishly, that I too may be able to get some more time out of it to enjoy with my family and my six grandkids.'
The TGA approved the drug, produced by US pharmaceutical behemoth Eli Lilly, on Wednesday, marking the first new treatment for early Alzheimer's disease in 25 years. Alzheimer's disease is a leading cause of dementia. Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia
Alzheimer's is a fatal neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia, which impacts about 600,000 Australians directly and a further 1.7 million carers.
The economic impact of dementia from Alzheimer's was calculated at $8.1bn in 2024, with the figure expected to double by 2050.
The excessive build-up of amyloid plaques in the brain disrupts the brain's neurons and prevents messages from travelling normally, leading to memory and thinking issues.
Professor Peter Gonski, a Sydney-based geriatrician and Alzheimer's specialist, told NewsWire the treatment could potentially give two years back to patients.
'For those starting to deteriorate, it will give them an extra couple of years in benefit in those that do well on it,' he said.
'You're getting a better start in your dementia history.'
Professor Gonski stressed, however, the treatment could slow decline but would not cure the disease.
'When it gets to moderate or severe, it's not going to make a lot of difference, except that you have had that extra time when you were better,' he said.
Patients receive an intravenous injection of the drug once every four weeks. The build-up of amyloid plaques is responsible for Alzheimer's disease. Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia
Dementia Australia chief executive Tanya Buchanan said the TGA's approval marked a 'step forward' in dementia treatment, but the treatment would only impact a select profile of patients.
'With dementia the second leading cause of death of Australians and the leading cause of death of Australian women, we welcome any steps taken towards improving the lives of people living with dementia, their families and carers,' Professor Buchanan said.
'It is important to note that donanemab does come with possible side effects that needs to be carefully communicated to patients so they can make an informed choice and the treatment needs to be monitored by health professionals.
'We also need to ensure people understand that donanemab is not a cure and is only suitable for people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease with a defined genetic profile, which is why it is so important for people to receive a timely diagnosis.'
Eli Lilly, a $1 trillion company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, will apply for donanemab to be included on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, with an advisory committee hearing expected in July.
The private prescription price is about $4700 for each injection.
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Sarah Richardson, the CEO of Online Psychologists Australia's parent company, Healthbright, said the guide takes readers through the warning signs of controlling, critical and gaslighting behaviours. She said it also provided resources for planning a safe exit from the relationship. Around one in five Australians have reported experiencing physical, sexual, family or domestic violence since the age of 15, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Personal Safety Survey 2021-2022. Recent crime data from NSW showed that domestic violence and sexual assaults were surging in regional areas, with some parts recording a spike of up to 24 per cent over two years. Despite the scale of the issue, reporting remains low, with less than 40 per cent of victims seeking advice or support, according to the Red Flag Radar guide. This was due, in part, to "a little-understood psychological response" known as trauma bonding, where victims form deep emotional attachments to their abusers, the guide said. "When you are bonded through a trauma, it's because someone has criticised you, it's because someone is being manipulative towards you, and you don't really know how to get away from that person," Ms Richardson said. "So you are bonded to them through the trauma that they are creating." The behaviour was often followed by "regret and affection" from the partner. It may be very difficult for victims to identify, and even harder to escape, she said. "The signs of trauma bonding and toxic dynamics aren't always obvious, especially when love, fear, and hope are tangled together," the guide said. "Healing begins when you stop looking for permission to trust your instincts and start honouring what you already feel." Support is available for those who may be distressed: Spotting signs of manipulation, coercive control and trauma bonding in relationships has become a little easier with the development of a new therapy platform. The 'Red Flag Radar: Relationship Self-Assessment', a free guide developed by Online Psychologists Australia, was released in June to help people recognise negative relationship patterns. "If you've ever found yourself googling questions like, 'Am I being manipulated?', 'Is my relationship toxic, or just intense?', 'Why is it so hard to leave?'...you're not alone," the guide said. "So many people quietly search for answers, trying to make sense of pain they can't always name. "While Google can give definitions, not all the answers are online. Sometimes the truth reveals itself only when you pause, reflect, and honestly listen to your own inner voice." Sarah Richardson, the CEO of Online Psychologists Australia's parent company, Healthbright, said the guide takes readers through the warning signs of controlling, critical and gaslighting behaviours. She said it also provided resources for planning a safe exit from the relationship. Around one in five Australians have reported experiencing physical, sexual, family or domestic violence since the age of 15, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Personal Safety Survey 2021-2022. Recent crime data from NSW showed that domestic violence and sexual assaults were surging in regional areas, with some parts recording a spike of up to 24 per cent over two years. Despite the scale of the issue, reporting remains low, with less than 40 per cent of victims seeking advice or support, according to the Red Flag Radar guide. This was due, in part, to "a little-understood psychological response" known as trauma bonding, where victims form deep emotional attachments to their abusers, the guide said. "When you are bonded through a trauma, it's because someone has criticised you, it's because someone is being manipulative towards you, and you don't really know how to get away from that person," Ms Richardson said. "So you are bonded to them through the trauma that they are creating." The behaviour was often followed by "regret and affection" from the partner. It may be very difficult for victims to identify, and even harder to escape, she said. "The signs of trauma bonding and toxic dynamics aren't always obvious, especially when love, fear, and hope are tangled together," the guide said. "Healing begins when you stop looking for permission to trust your instincts and start honouring what you already feel." Support is available for those who may be distressed: Spotting signs of manipulation, coercive control and trauma bonding in relationships has become a little easier with the development of a new therapy platform. The 'Red Flag Radar: Relationship Self-Assessment', a free guide developed by Online Psychologists Australia, was released in June to help people recognise negative relationship patterns. "If you've ever found yourself googling questions like, 'Am I being manipulated?', 'Is my relationship toxic, or just intense?', 'Why is it so hard to leave?'...you're not alone," the guide said. "So many people quietly search for answers, trying to make sense of pain they can't always name. "While Google can give definitions, not all the answers are online. Sometimes the truth reveals itself only when you pause, reflect, and honestly listen to your own inner voice." Sarah Richardson, the CEO of Online Psychologists Australia's parent company, Healthbright, said the guide takes readers through the warning signs of controlling, critical and gaslighting behaviours. She said it also provided resources for planning a safe exit from the relationship. Around one in five Australians have reported experiencing physical, sexual, family or domestic violence since the age of 15, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Personal Safety Survey 2021-2022. Recent crime data from NSW showed that domestic violence and sexual assaults were surging in regional areas, with some parts recording a spike of up to 24 per cent over two years. Despite the scale of the issue, reporting remains low, with less than 40 per cent of victims seeking advice or support, according to the Red Flag Radar guide. This was due, in part, to "a little-understood psychological response" known as trauma bonding, where victims form deep emotional attachments to their abusers, the guide said. "When you are bonded through a trauma, it's because someone has criticised you, it's because someone is being manipulative towards you, and you don't really know how to get away from that person," Ms Richardson said. "So you are bonded to them through the trauma that they are creating." The behaviour was often followed by "regret and affection" from the partner. It may be very difficult for victims to identify, and even harder to escape, she said. "The signs of trauma bonding and toxic dynamics aren't always obvious, especially when love, fear, and hope are tangled together," the guide said. "Healing begins when you stop looking for permission to trust your instincts and start honouring what you already feel." Support is available for those who may be distressed:
