Lincoln clinic among first in region to offer new Alzheimer’s treatment

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Lincoln clinic is among the first in the region to offer a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

Be Well Memory and Infusion now has the drug Leqembi, which has shown some positive signs in treatment of the illness.

Those with mild stages of dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease are eligible for the treatment at Be Well.

SEE ALSO: FDA approves Alzheimer’s drug, bringing thousands of Nebraskans ‘a lot of hope’

Dr. Mark Carlson, founder of the clinic, said this drug is a good step in the right direction when it comes to treatment.

“I think just like in oncology (cancer) treatment, we start with the first generation, which is good, but it leads to the second, third, fourth generations,” Carlson said. “And so, we’re just in the first generation, but surely the subsequent generations are to follow. And in fact, we’re participating in those clinical studies looking for the next breakthroughs.”

SEE ALSO: What new drug could mean for the 35,000 Nebraskans with Alzheimer’s

He said it’s important to look out for warning signs.

“Things like memory changes, things like struggling with directions, struggling with finding your way around town, finding operating your phone,” Carlson explained. “Those are the kind of things that occur early in the disease. And oftentimes, again, it’s not the individual that notices; it’s the observer.”

While the disease typically only affects elderly adults, Carlson said it’s never too early to get yourself or a loved one tested if they begin to show symptoms.