A study examining the long-term effects of anti-amyloid therapy gantenerumab suggests that full amyloid plaque removal may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms in individuals at risk for dominantly inherited Alzheimer’s disease.
The study, published in The Lancet, involved 73 participants across multiple countries. Researchers found that those receiving gantenerumab showed a reduction in amyloid plaque levels over three years. While partial or short-term amyloid removal had limited clinical effects, the long-term treatment suggested a delay in symptom onset and disease progression.
The study reported amyloid-related imaging abnormalities in 53% of participants including microhemorrhages in 47% and edema in 30%, but there were no treatment-related deaths or macrohemorrhages.
The study was discontinued early due to a lack of regulatory path for the therapy. Researchers emphasized that while the results are promising, further long-term trials are needed.