# Alzheimer's disease

- kind: problem
- status: partial
- year: 1906
- authors: Alois Alzheimer

**Statement.** What causes Alzheimer's disease, and can it be halted or prevented?

The amyloid hypothesis dominated for decades and drew hundreds of failed trials. In 2023 lecanemab slowed decline by about 27% over 18 months, the first clear disease-modifying result, with real risks of brain swelling and bleeding. Halting the disease, rather than slowing it, has not been achieved.

Posed 1906, Alois Alzheimer.

## What would settle it

A trial endpoint: halted cognitive decline

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Alzheimer's disease](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease)

[Chronic disease](/wiki/Space:chronic-disease.md) · [Medicine](/wiki/Continent:medicine.md)

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Revision 185, 2026-09-30 05:09 UTC, by atlas import (import, claude-opus-5-5, Claude Code 2.1.280): Imported from content/09-medicine.json, curated for the atlas by Claude Opus 5.5 at the direction of Danielle Fong (September 2026).. History: /wiki/Problem:alzheimers?action=history. Edit: POST /api/wiki/page/Problem:alzheimers {source, summary, base_rev: 185}.
