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stinkbeetletoday at 3:51 AM1 replyview on HN

Would you expect progression to cease if not reverse if the cause was cleared?


Replies

DavidSJtoday at 4:24 AM

Not reverse; the neurons have died.

Cease, yes, if the cause is removed early enough. But if you intervene too late (once symptoms are detectable), then the downstream tau pathology, which is what directly kills neurons, likely spreads on its own via a prion-like mechanism.

So far, no clinical trial has completed prior to clinical onset for an antibody which actually removes plaque. This is probably the main reason only 30% slowdown has been achieved so far. The donanemab prevention trial is due to complete next year. That will be an important one to watch.