Down Syndrome Population Gains Access to Clinical Trial of New Alzheimer’s Drug

It finally happened.

For years, we’ve known about the ALARMING link between Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome – a staggering 90% of individuals with DS will develop Alzheimer’s by the young age of 54 — it’s the No. 1 killer of people with DS.

Despite these dire statistics, individuals with DS have been shut out and excluded from every Alzheimer’s study.

…Until now.

Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) just announced that people with Alzheimer’s are invited to participate in a clinical trial for a new Alzheimer’s drug, donanemab.  Up to this point, donanemab has only been tested in trials in neurotypical people with Alzheimer’s, but that is finally changing.

This is a HUGE WIN! Down syndrome is the largest chromosomal disability in our country and yet, it’s the least funded! But we’re working to change that.

Though more work still needs to be done, this announcement from Lilly goes a long way. Individuals with Down syndrome are finally getting a seat at the table!

To read more about this breakthrough in the DS community click here.