When you talk to Dongming Cai, MD, PhD, an unexpected feeling of optimism emerges. It’s surprising, since the diseases Cai researches and treats—Alzheimer’s disease and dementia—are typically associated with hopelessness, fear, and defeat. 

And for good reason. There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and treatment options have long been limited, particularly for advanced stages of the disease. 

But the landscape is changing for the better, says Cai, who became the director of the University of Minnesota N. Bud Grossman Center for Memory Research and Care in 2023 and is also an M Health Fairview neurologist. 

From new therapies recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to a novel drug her team is developing, Cai says the future of Alzheimer’s care is getting brighter. 

Your lab is on the cusp of bringing a new Alzheimer’s disease treatment to clinical trials. Tell us about it. 

Our drug focuses on microglia, a type of cell that’s involved in brain inflammation associated with Alzheimer’s. Microglia can be considered the brain’s garbage disposal system, responsible for identifying and eliminating damaged cells, plaques, and other harmful substances to maintain optimal brain function. However, in some people with Alzheimer’s, this garbage disposal system malfunctions, leading to inefficient clearance of these toxic substances. 

We’ve developed a drug that aims to keep microglia healthy, potentially slowing down or even preventing the progression of Alzheimer’s. 

What other treatments are available for Alzheimer’s? 

One exciting development is the approval of anti-amyloid therapy by the FDA in 2023. Data suggests these drugs can slow the disease by 20% to 30%. 

These numbers have significant implications for patients and their families. It means individuals with Alzheimer’s can remain in the early stages of the disease for much longer, allowing them to retain their communicative abilities and independence much longer. This extended period of cognitive function can delay the need for nursing home care and allow people to enjoy a better quality of life for longer. 

How does that compare to treatment a decade ago? 

Such outcomes would’ve been considered impossible a decade ago. We could never have imagined achieving this level of progress. 

It’s important to note that this is only one medication, so far. We anticipate the availability of additional medications that are even safer and more affordable in the near future. 

What’s your message to people facing an Alzheimer’s diagnosis?

I want my patients and their families to leave their appointments with a sense of hope, rather than feeling that this is a death sentence with no options. There’s actually much we can do. 

There are reasons to be excited about the future, and this future is not too far away—it is within our reach.