This is The Guardian.

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most devastating diagnoses to receive.

Which is why, in 2022, when a trial of a new drug found it slowed cognitive decline in

patients in early stages of the disease, there was genuine real excitement.

The drug is called laconamab, and it's not a cure, but it does delay cognitive decline.

This is big news because the more Alzheimer's progresses,

the more patients lose their independence, their memory,

and so many aspects of living that are so precious to them.

Now, a review has looked at whether they really do make a difference.

When Ian and I get into the studio together to discuss the latest scientific

research, there's never a lack of interesting topics to get into. What we actually end up

chin wagging about? The lunch offering in the canteen, train delays and what we got up to at the weekend.

And a new study offers a clue as to why we enjoy a little gab.

But the subject you can natter to any Brit about is, of course, the weather.

And it looks like our favourite kind of small talk is about to be supercharged,

as experts say a super el Niño is brewing.

But is the world ready for what it will bring?

From The Guardian, I'm Madeleine Finley and this is Science Weekly.

Ian, a few years ago, we reported on an exciting new treatment for Alzheimer's.

Drugs that were hailed as bringing in a new era for people with their disease to slow its progression.

It all felt really hopeful, but at the same time there were these uncertainties around how

effective the treatments were and their side effects.

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