Designing a Prevention Trial for Alzheimer Disease Using Lecanemab: The AHEAD 3-45 Study
The AHEAD 3-45 Study is currently assessing lecanemab asymptomatic stage of Alzheimer disease to assess whether the therapy can slow biomarker changes or cognitive decline at the earliest phases.
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by memory loss and cognitive decline. It is a disease driven by the accumulation of amyloid β plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles. Previous studies show that AD pathology can develop over a continuum, with amyloid and tau changes starting 10 to 20 years prior to the onset of symptoms, highlighting the importance of early intervention. The literature defines the preclinical stage of AD as amyloid buildup in the cortex without clinical impairment, with symptoms emerging once neurodegeneration impacts memory-related brain regions.1