For decades, research into Alzheimer’s disease has made painfully slow progress. More than 7 million Americans are living with the condition, which is the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer’s is currently incurable, and efforts to develop effective treatments have been hindered by issues like groupthink and fraud by some high-profile researchers. However, recent years have brought new hope, including the approval of two new drugs that can treat Alzheimer’s directly. The two drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are lecanemab and donanemab. Both target amyloid plaque, a buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain that is strongly associated with Alzheimer’s. Clinical trials have shown that these drugs can reduce amyloid levels and slow the rate of cognitive decline in patients. While the amyloid hypothesis — the idea that amyloid buildup causes Alzheimer’s — has been debated within the scientific community, these drugs provide some of the first evidence supporting this theory. Researchers are now looking beyond amyloid to other potential targets, such as tau proteins, which also accumulate in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, and factors like chronic inflammation and vascular health. Some treatments targeting these areas are in early clinical trials, where the focus is on safety before testing their effectiveness. Early results have been encouraging, hinting at a future where a combination of therapies could be used to halt or even reverse the disease’s progression. Another area of interest is GLP-1 drugs, which are typically used for weight loss. These drugs are being studied for their potential to reduce Alzheimer’s risk by improving blood vessel health. The Alzheimer’s Association has dedicated $100 million to research this possible connection. Meanwhile, experimental surgery in China has raised both excitement and skepticism. The procedure involves creating a drain in the brain to remove amyloid and tau proteins, and some patients have reportedly shown improvements. However, the lead researcher has been arrested for insurance fraud, and the Chinese government has banned the surgery outside of clinical trials. Scientists in the U.S. and Europe are interested in studying whether the procedure can be replicated safely. While reversing Alzheimer’s remains a distant goal, the development of new treatments and ongoing research offer hope for the future. Scientists are optimistic that more effective therapies may become available in the coming years, potentially improving the lives of millions affected by the disease.