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“That (lecanemab) goes into the person system and clears out a protein that builds up in the brain and Alzheimer's called amyloid. So, it goes in and clears out the amyloid, and what we think that does then is that there's less 5deposits in the brain. That amyloid kind of sits in there and causes 6irritation to the nerves and damage to the nerves, so that leads to thinking and memory problems.”

As Dr. Cynthia Carlsson with the UW system explains, it's a way to slow the 7progression of Alzheimer's, but it's not a final solution.

“This is the first of, we hope, future therapies. It(lecanemab)'s only going to be available for a 8subgroup of people. So, people who have 9mild 10cognitive 11impairment or mild 12dementia.”

Still, it's a 13significant sign of progress for 14caretakers everywhere.

“It's hopeful. There's not a lot that healthcare can do, and now maybe, hopefully, they can do more with this drug.”

Mike Rohrkaste is the executive director of the Fox Valley Memory Project, an 15organization 16dedicated to directly working with people who have 17memory loss as well as their caretakers.

“My mom passed away from dementia a long time ago, and I did not understand at the time what it was.”

As someone who's experienced a loss, it's a cause Rohrkaste is 18passionate about.

“They may not be able to easily walk from one room to the other or even know how to get from one room to the other. So, it does become more challenging as the disease 19progresses. Caregivers often experience multiple losses throughout the journey.”

There are pills currently available, but experts say none of them get to the root of the problem like 20lecanemab. 21Researchers like Carlsson are hoping this is just the start for finding a cure.