What's behind the controversy swirling around the approval of the latest Alzheimer's drugs?

They show promise they're worth pursuing, but they are not a cure, they are not halting the disease.

It's Tuesday April 2nd and you're listening to Science Friday.

I'm Sci-Fi producer Shishana Bucks Bound.

You might have seen headlines about a new crop of... I'm Cyphry producer Shishana Bucks found.

You might have seen headlines about a new crop of Alzheimer's drugs,

but their efficacy and side effects for patients

have come under scrutiny.

What exactly is going on?

Guest host Ariel Doam Ross takes it from here.

In the past few years, we've seen a string of new Alzheimer's medications enter development.

They're called anti-amyloids.

They target amyloid plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

Amyloid plaques are one of the key biomarkers of the disease.

The first of these drugs to reach the approval state

was Adekanomab, brand name Adehem in 2021.

Maybe you remember it?

It caused some controversy because the FDA approved it despite

there not being much evidence that it actually slowed cognitive decline in patients.

The sale of that drug ended just last month when the company that

makes it, Biogen, pulled the plug and stopped all research related to it.

Following that controversy, another medication of this type made it through the FDA approval

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