First human trial supports Israeli immune therapy for Alzheimer’s

Rather than target amyloid plaques, the potential new treatment aims to restore immune functions that naturally decline with age. Pesach Benson/TPS-IL An Israeli-developed biological therapy designed to restore the immune system’s ability to protect the brain has shown a favorable safety profile in its first human trial, according to Phase 1 clinical results published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Medicine. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys memory, thinking and the ability to carry out everyday tasks. According to the World Health Organization, more than 55 million people worldwide are living with dementia, and Alzheimer’s accounts for an estimated 60% to 70% of those cases. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s. Current treatments can help manage symptoms, while newer drugs may modestly slow cognitive decline.