Alireza Atri M.D., Ph.D.: Navigating Alzheimer's Care

In a recent interview, Alireza Atri, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, shares valuable advice for patients and families dealing with Alzheimer's disease. Atri emphasizes four main pillars of Alzheimer's care. The first pillar is the importance of early detection and an accurate diagnosis, which is now more achievable with new diagnostic tools like positron emission tomography (PET) scans and biomarkers. These advancements allow for a clearer understanding of Alzheimer’s pathology, giving patients and their families more control over their treatment options, including lifestyle changes, current medications and new therapies.

The second pillar is education. Atri stresses that both the patient and their caregivers should be well informed about Alzheimer’s disease and available treatments. This knowledge helps them make informed decisions, choose the right medications and avoid potentially harmful ones. Education also equips families to support the patient throughout their journey.

Atri's third point is understanding the suitability of new treatments, such as donanemab, that are designed for patients with early-stage disease and mild symptoms. These treatments can slow the progression of Alzheimer's but are not suitable for everyone. Accurate diagnosis, using tools like amyloid PET scans, is crucial to determine whether someone is a good candidate for these medications.

Finally, the fourth pillar is a shared decision-making process that weighs the benefits and risks of treatment. Atri highlights that while new drugs can extend the time patients remain independent, they come with costs, monitoring needs and potential side effects. However, the benefits are significant for many — treatments can delay the progression of the disease, reducing the need for assistance with daily activities and maintaining a better quality of life.

Atri's message is one of cautious optimism. New research and therapies offer hope, but they require careful consideration and informed choices. Patients and families should work closely with healthcare providers to navigate these decisions, balancing the desire to slow disease progression with the realities of treatment risks and demands.