**Why Starting Dementia Treatment Early Makes a Difference**
Dementia drugs like lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab are changing how we approach Alzheimer’s disease, but their success hinges on one critical factor: timing. Here’s why acting early matters.
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### **The Race Against Brain Damage**
Alzheimer’s silently damages the brain years before symptoms appear. By the time memory lapses or confusion arise, significant harm has already occurred. New drugs target sticky proteins called amyloid plaques, which build up early in the disease[1][4]. Starting treatment *before* these plaques cause widespread damage can slow decline more effectively[1][5].
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### **How Effective Are These Drugs?**
– **Lecanemab**: The first EU-approved drug proven to slow early Alzheimer’s progression by tackling amyloid plaques[1].
– **Donanemab**: Slowed cognitive decline by 35% in people with low-to-medium tau levels (a protein linked to advanced damage)[2]. Nearly half of users saw no symptom worsening after a year[2].
These results apply only to *early-stage* patients. Once tau spreads widely, treatments lose much of their impact[2][5].
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### **Early Treatment = More Independence**
Delaying treatment risks irreversible brain changes that affect daily life—like managing finances or hobbies. Donanemab users retained 40% more ability to perform these tasks compared to those on placebo[2]. Catching the disease early means preserving independence longer.
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### **What Delays Diagnosis?**
Many dismiss early signs as “normal aging,” missing the window when these drugs work best[5]. Doctors emphasize getting evaluated for even mild memory changes—especially if there’s a family history of dementia[4][5].
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### **Looking Ahead**
While not cures, these drugs mark a turning point: they prove that slowing Alzheimer’s is possible if we act fast enough. Researchers are now exploring repurposed diabetes and eye drugs to expand options further[3], but early detection remains key to maximizing any treatment’s potential.
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In short, treating dementia isn’t just about having better drugs—it’s about using them at the right time. The earlier, the better chance of staying ahead of this disease.
