Happy & Healthy with Amy

The Latest Alzheimer's Treatments: What Works, What Doesn't, and What's Next (2025 Update)

• Amy Lang • Season 1 • Episode 274

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Are new Alzheimer's treatments finally offering hope? In this episode, we're diving into the latest breakthroughs in Alzheimer's treatment—what's been approved, what's in the pipeline, and what these medications can and cannot do. 

If you or a loved one are concerned about cognitive decline, this is an episode you don't want to miss!

What to Listen For

  • [02:28] – Why Alzheimer’s research has been so challenging—did you know a major 2006 study was exposed as fraudulent?
  • [03:59] – The amyloid plaque controversy—why has it dominated research for so long?
  • [05:45] – Three alternative Alzheimer’s theories that could reshape treatment: the Tau Hypothesis, Inflammation Hypothesis, and Environmental Toxicity Hypothesis.
  • [09:04] – Why drug development takes so long—did you know it can take up to 30 years from research to standard treatment?
  • [13:28] – The hard truth: We still have no cure, and no medication reverses Alzheimer’s symptoms. So what do current drugs actually do?
  • [14:08] – The most commonly prescribed Alzheimer’s drugs—what they target and how they work.
  • [16:05] – The new FDA-approved drugs Leqembi and Casenla—how they work, their risks, and why they’re so expensive.
  • [18:20] – The serious risks of new Alzheimer’s treatments—brain swelling, bleeding, and the need for regular IV infusions.
  • [20:30] – Why weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are now being studied for Alzheimer’s prevention.
  • [25:00] – The importance of early detection—why treatments work best when started as early as possible.

While we don’t yet have a cure for Alzheimer’s, the latest treatments offer new possibilities for slowing cognitive decline. But with high costs, serious risks, and the need for early detection, it’s crucial to stay informed. If you or a loved one are at risk, talk to your doctor about the latest research and what steps you can take today.

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