What to know about the new drug trial for Alzheimer's

PHILADELPHIA — A new drug designed to ward off Alzheimer's is being tested at more than 100 sites around the world, including the University of Pennsylvania. Called lecanemab, it consists of antibodies that bind to the abnormal proteins that accumulate in the brains of people with Alzheimer's. Previous efforts to target these proteins have resulted in little to no improvement in patient symptoms, for reasons that remain poorly understood. Researchers hope the new drug will be more effective because it is given earlier in the course of disease, before brain function has started to decline. Can ...