Health Matters: UT Health neurologist leads groundbreaking Alzheimer's drug trial

A new Alzheimer's drug, Lecanemab, targets brain plaque, showing promise in slowing cognitive decline.

HOUSTON — A new class of Alzheimer's drugs is now on the market. Instead of treating symptoms, this medication attacks the disease with promising results.

Rolfe and Carol Johnson just celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.

“I married her when I graduated from Rice,” said Rolfe.

After three children, nine grandchildren, and a law career, Rolfe was 75 when he sought out UT Health neurologist Dr. Paul Schulz.  Rolfe said he was "forgetting stuff.”

Schulz specializes in dementia. Three years ago, Schulz enrolled Rolfe as the first patient in Texas for a drug trial designed to destroy brain plaque linked to Alzheimer’s. The drug is made of antibodies.

“They find the amyloid in the brain, and they attach to it," Schulz explained. "That turns on the white blood cells, which then literally eat the amyloid plaques. By a year and a half (of treatment), most people don't have any amyloid present on their amyloid PET scan."

It’s not a cure but it helps reduce mental decline. In some cases, patients show cognitive improvement.

Recently the FDA approved Lecanemab made by Eisai is now covered by insurance. A health professional must administer the hour-long infusion every two weeks. Patients must also undergo a series of MRIs to monitor the brain. The treatment helps those with mild Alzheimer’s.

“Because if you wait much longer, literally every month, the efficacy of the medications goes down,” Schulz warned.

Schulz said having trouble placing the right word, why you walked into a room, or remembering a movie plot is normal aging, if you can be reminded of the phrase or event. Forgetting the event entirely, like seeing a friend yesterday, is a symptom of Alzheimer’s and time to see a neurologist

For the Johnsons, early treatment was key compared to friends in their age group.

“They have fallen off and many are deceased, and Ralph has been able to just stay just about where he was," Carol said. "And so, we have our standard of living, and we enjoy in our lives. It hasn't ruined everything.”

Rolfe is now 85, Carol is 84. While Rolfe continues to have some short-term memory issues, the couple lives on their own, and are active and in good spirits.

“Fortunately, as you can tell, I had a wife who kept me straight,” Rolfe said.

If you are interested in participating in a UT Health clinical trial for Alzheimer’s drugs, visit UT Health Houston.