Hancock Health is now offering a treatment for those with early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. LEQEMBI® is an FDA-approved immunotherapy administered every two weeks for 18 months to help slow the progression of dementia for patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia.
The treatment is administered to patients at the infusion center within the Sue Ann Wortman Cancer Center. The Cancer Center, along with an onsite PET scanner and two devoted neurologists — made Hancock Health readily equipped to administer the potentially life-changing drug.
Patients must be in the early stages of dementia with mild cognitive impairment to be prescribed the drug. The treatment works by producing antibodies that attack amyloids, the plaque that accumulates in the brain, which are known to cause cognitive decline.
“It has to be caught early, which is why we want people to be going to their primary care doctors for regular wellness visits, especially with memory complaints,” said Dr Josh Est, un Hancock Health neurologist. “It’s important to get seen … If you (are diagnosed) we can start you on a treatment, and the earlier you start the better.”
The treatment option is available through a referral from a primary care physician. If a patient is showing common signs of Alzheimer’s—memory loss, difficulty completing everyday tasks, confusion with time or place, changes in mood, or misplacing items—their doctor can refer them to Hancock Health Neurology. The patient will then be tested to determine if they are a good candidate; this extra step is taken because this is a medication for a very specific condition.
Learn more about Hancock Neurology and Neurodiagnostics here.
What Is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s, a type of dementia, is a progressive brain disease where complex changes result in damage to nerve cells that affect how people think, talk, and act. There are roughly 7 million people 65 and older living with the disease in the United States each year, and about 200,000 under 65 that have been diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
The exact cause of Alzheimer’s is unknown, but it is believed to be related to the buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain, called amyloid plaques and tau tangles. These proteins damage and kill brain cells, leading to cognitive decline. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but medications and therapies can help manage symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
East Central Indiana Alzheimer’s Resources
On the second Tuesday of each month, 3-4pm, Hancock Health facilitates an Alzheimer’s Association support group at the Hancock Wellness Center in Greenfield. All are welcome. For more information, reach out to Teri House Gottschalk.
Dementia Friends Indiana is made up of local groups who have completed a one-hour Dementia Friends course, and want to help make their individual community an easier place for persons who have a cognitive decline to participate in activities like dining out, going to stores, and conducting everyday life tasks. Learn more at dementiafriendsindiana.org.
The Hancock Health Connection Center is a confidential and comprehensive approach to making health possible for Hancock County residents, patients and Hancock Health associates. They are a hub for community resources to meet social needs and prevention and intervention services related to behavioral health needs. Their team of support navigators and System of Care outreach programs can help families navigate health care, social needs and more.
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