Lecanemab for Alzheimer’s disease: An option for you?

The drug lecanemab appears to slow mental decline in people with early Alzheimer’s disease. Learn whether it might be right for you.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Lecanemab is a drug given to slow the progression of mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This drug reduces clumps of proteins that play a key role in AD. Reducing brain amyloid-beta proteins modestly slows memory and thinking decline from AD.

Lecanemab is for people who have early symptomatic AD. In a recent drug trial, taking lecanemab over 18 months slowed the rate of cognitive decline. It’s not yet known whether the drug helps in other ways such as slowing development of AD in people without symptoms of memory loss.

Lecanemab is given by IV infusion every two weeks. Your care team likely will watch for side effects and ask you or your caregiver how your body reacts to the drug.

Because lecanemab is a new drug, there is still much to learn about it. Some people who take lecanemab have side effects such as:

  • Dizziness.
  • Headache.
  • Visual changes.
  • Worsening confusion.
  • Swelling or bleeding in the brain.
  • Rarely, death.
  • Brain shrinkage.

Not for everyone

Lecanemab is not helpful for people with full cognitive function or later stages of AD. The drug does not prevent or cure AD. Your health care team will help you decide if lecanemab is an option for you.

The medicines you take for other conditions and your health history may affect whether you can take lecanemab. A history of cancer or bleeding in your brain or use of anticoagulant drugs, such as warfarin or apixaban, may prevent you from taking lecanemab.

If you take lecanemab, you likely will have regular MRI scans to check for brain bleeds. If your side effects are severe, you may need anti-seizure drugs or care in a hospital. You also may have to stop taking the drug.