Leqembi Alzheimer’s Treatment Slows the Progression of Disease
Leqembi is an innovative drug that slows down the progression of mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia resulting from Alzheimer’s disease. It is a monoclonal antibody that removes plaque from the brain with the same efficacy as other drugs, but with fewer side effects.
Leqembi is approved by the FDA and has been shown to slow down cognitive decline in patients exhibiting mild Alzheimer’s symptoms by about 25 percent.
For patients that qualify, Leqembi is administered by infusion in an outpatient procedure at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
Do I Qualify for Leqembi?
Leqembi treatment is for people who have amyloid plaque building up in the brain. This buildup is believed to be a main cause of Alzheimer’s disease. A neurologist who specializes in Alzheimer’s disease must evaluate you, with diagnostic tests and imaging, to determine if you are a candidate for this treatment.
Initially, the neurologist will review your medical history and the list of medications you are currently taking.
Alzheimer’s specialists can use several tests to determine if someone has dementia or a milder form of cognitive impairment, including paper tests and brain imaging. However, only specialized spinal fluid tests (spinal tap) and amyloid/tau positron emission tomography (PET) scans can confirm that your cognitive decline results from Alzheimer’s disease instead of other causes such as mini strokes.
Spinal fluid tests evaluate four things in the brain and body:
- Presence of amyloid plaque
- Presence of tau tangles (proteins)
- Brain cell loss or shrinkage
- Body’s inflammatory response to these changes
Accumulation of amyloid plaque and tau tangles can block a neuron’s ability to communicate with other neurons in the brain, leading to cognitive decline.
PET scans will show buildup of plaque (amyloid PET) and tangles (tau PET) in the images.
Your doctor will review your test results and make a determination about whether Leqembi is the right treatment for you.
To see if you qualify for Leqembi, call us to request an appointment: 732-235-7733.
What to Expect
Leqembi is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion through a needle in the arm. It is an outpatient procedure – you will not have to be admitted to a hospital to receive the medication.
Infusions are given once every 2 weeks and last about 1 hour.
Health care providers will monitor patients receiving Leqembi for side effects throughout treatment using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and may adjust the dose or stop treatment if necessary.
Side Effects of Leqembi
The most common side effects of Leqembi include:
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Infusion-related reactions (which will be prevented by following a pre-medication protocol) such as:
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms such as chills, joint and body aches, feeling shaky
- Nausea, vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fast or slow heart rate
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Small areas of inflammation in the brain, with or without tiny spots of bleeding (known as microhemorrhage) in or on the surface of the brain. These are collectively known as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), which actually happen in about 10% of people with Alzheimer’s disease not treated with any drugs. Headaches, confusion, and balance issues have been linked to ARIA, but 75 percent of people with ARIA are not symptomatic from it. Therefore, brain MRIs are necessary to identify these changes – especially early during the treatment.
Allergic reactions may also occur during a LEQEMBI infusion. Symptoms may include:
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or tongue
- Itchy bumps on the skin, also known as hives
- Difficulty breathing
Is Leqembi Covered by Insurance?
Leqembi is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and VA Benefit plans. Contact your insurance company to determine if you are eligible under your current plan.
Resources for Patients
- About Alzheimer’s disease. Learn more about dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
- Eisai Patient Support. Navigators from this site help patients understand insurance coverage, identify what financial support programs are available, and learn what to expect throughout Leqembi treatment.
Consult a Neurologist to See if Leqembi Is Right for You
Early detection and intervention are keys to slowing decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Don’t wait. If you suspect or know you have early-stage Alzheimer’s make an appointment to see an RWJBarnabas Health neurologist today.
Locations
Leqembi is available at:
Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease Clinic
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
125 Paterson Street, 6th floor Neurology Clinic
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Infusion Center
1 Robert Wood Johnson University
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
To see if you qualify for Leqembi, call us to request an appointment: 732-235-7733.
