8/29/25 Review in Nature Neurology Highlights NEWEST Breakthrough Therapies for Alzheimer's Disease
New Hope for Alzheimer’s: Review in Nature Reviews Neurology Highlights Breakthrough Therapies
August 29, 2025 — San Diego, CA
The Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI) is excited to share that a new article has been published in Nature Reviews Neurology by ATRI’s own Dr. Michael S. Rafii and Dr. Paul S. Aisen. The paper offers a clear and timely overview of promising new treatments that are changing how we approach this devastating illness.
For the first time, treatments are available that don’t just manage symptoms—they actually modify the course of the disease. These new therapies are called monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), and they work by targeting and removing harmful proteins in the brain known as amyloid-beta (Aβ), which are believed to play a key role in Alzheimer’s. In large clinical trials, these therapies have been shown to slow down memory loss and cognitive decline, offering real hope to patients and families.
The review explains that Alzheimer’s doesn’t start suddenly—it progresses over many years, beginning silently before symptoms appear. Recognizing this “continuum” helps doctors better identify who might benefit from treatment early on.
These antibody treatments attach to the amyloid proteins and help the body clear them out. This may also help reduce other brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s, like inflammation and damage to nerve cells. To use these treatments effectively, doctors need tools to diagnose Alzheimer’s early—such as brain scans and blood tests—and health systems that can deliver the therapies safely, including regular infusions and monitoring.
While current treatments like lecanemab and donanemab are a big step forward, they don’t stop the disease entirely. That’s why researchers are now looking at combination therapies that also target other aspects of Alzheimer’s, like tau proteins and brain inflammation.
ATRI is leading the way with the upcoming Alzheimer’s Tau Platform Trial, which will test new therapies that target both amyloid and tau—bringing us closer to even more effective treatments.
To learn more, you can read the full article here.