What's happened
As of late September 2025, new Alzheimer’s drugs like lecanemab and donanemab show promise in slowing disease progression but require early diagnosis and carry risks. The UK’s NHS and Australia face challenges in access and funding, while the UAE highlights the need for improved awareness and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the UK’s rollout of weight-loss drug Mounjaro is underfunded, limiting patient access amid rising demand and GP shortages.
What's behind the headline?
Early Diagnosis is Critical but Lacking
The effectiveness of new Alzheimer’s drugs like lecanemab and donanemab hinges on early diagnosis, yet healthcare systems are ill-prepared. The UK NHS is not ready to implement widespread early detection, risking patients missing the narrow treatment window. Similarly, the UAE faces late diagnoses due to limited screening and stigma.
Funding and Access Disparities
The rollout of Mounjaro in the UK exemplifies systemic underfunding and rationing. Despite eligibility of millions, only a fraction receive treatment due to phased funding and commissioning board shortfalls, creating a postcode lottery. Australia’s approval of lecanemab is a step forward but cost and access remain barriers.
Workforce Shortages Compound Challenges
GP shortages in the UK, with a third not working in the NHS, exacerbate access issues for both dementia care and obesity treatments. High workloads and burnout reduce capacity for early diagnosis and ongoing management.
Technological and Research Advances Offer Hope
Blood tests and AI diagnostics are emerging to improve early detection. The UAE’s leadership in genomic research and AI-powered diagnostics provides a foundation for better Alzheimer’s strategies. However, translating scientific breakthroughs into clinical practice requires coordinated policy and investment.
Forecast
Without urgent systemic reforms—boosting funding, expanding workforce, and improving early diagnosis infrastructure—the benefits of new Alzheimer’s treatments will remain limited. Weight-loss drug access issues highlight broader challenges in equitable healthcare delivery. Policymakers must prioritize integrated approaches to meet growing demands from aging populations.
What the papers say
Gulf News highlights the UAE’s progress in healthcare but warns of late Alzheimer’s diagnoses and calls for national strategies integrating government and private sectors. Dr Suhail Abdulla Alrukn emphasizes the scarcity of memory clinics and stigma hindering early detection. Meta Hub’s Roberta Marinelli stresses collaboration across sectors to leverage AI and genomic research.
SBS reports Australia’s recent approval of lecanemab, noting its potential to help tens of thousands but highlighting cost barriers and limited access. Retired officer Peter Duclos shares personal challenges, underscoring the drug’s limited benefit for advanced cases. Australian Dementia Network’s Christopher Rowe notes the necessity of early treatment and the drug’s risks.
The Independent and The Mirror cover UK research published in The Lancet, warning that NHS is unprepared for new Alzheimer’s treatments despite their efficacy comparable to cancer drugs. Dr Richard Oakley and Professor Giovanni Frisoni call for societal and systemic reforms to enable early diagnosis and treatment rollout. NHS spokesperson acknowledges ongoing efforts but admits readiness gaps.
The Guardian and The Independent reveal a crisis in UK general practice, with a third of GPs not working in the NHS, worsening access to care. Studies show burnout and workload pressures driving departures, threatening the delivery of dementia and obesity care.
The British Medical Journal investigation, cited by The Mirror and The Independent, exposes underfunding and rationing in the UK’s Mounjaro rollout. Only 18 of 42 commissioning bodies have started prescribing, with funding covering a fraction of eligible patients. Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledges to improve access amid rising private costs.
South China Morning Post offers a personal perspective on dementia’s impact and highlights advances in diagnostics and care technology, emphasizing the importance of not dismissing dementia as normal aging.
Together, these sources paint a complex picture o
How we got here
Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia globally, with rising prevalence due to aging populations. New drugs targeting amyloid plaques offer hope but require early detection and robust healthcare infrastructure. Simultaneously, healthcare systems in the UK, Australia, and UAE grapple with workforce shortages, funding constraints, and uneven access to treatments and diagnostics, complicating care delivery.
Go deeper
- How do new Alzheimer’s drugs work and who can access them?
- What are the main barriers to early dementia diagnosis in the UK and UAE?
- Why is the rollout of weight-loss drug Mounjaro limited in the UK?
Common question
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Are New Alzheimer's Drugs Like Lecanemab and Donanemab Really Effective?
Recent advances in Alzheimer's treatments, such as lecanemab and donanemab, offer hope for slowing disease progression. However, their effectiveness, accessibility, and the challenges faced by healthcare systems like the NHS and Australian health services raise important questions. Below, we explore the real impact of these drugs, the importance of early diagnosis, and the systemic issues affecting patient access.
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Are New Alzheimer’s Drugs Like Lecanemab and Donanemab Effective?
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Wesley Paul William Streeting is a British politician serving as the Member of Parliament for Ilford North since 2015, and since 2020 as Shadow Minister for Schools.
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In the medical profession, a general practitioner is a medical doctor who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education to patients.
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The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is the professional body for general (medical) practitioners (GPs/Family Physicians/Primary Care Physicians) in the United Kingdom. The RCGP represents and supports GPs on key issues including licensing...
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The National Health Service is the publicly funded healthcare system in England, and one of the four National Health Service systems in the United Kingdom.