Editor:
I am the daughter of a woman who died of Alzheimer’s disease. My grandfather (mother’s father) had mild cognitive impairment. My mother went on to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. My strong family history makes me predisposed to inherit this disease. I want to take any drug, regardless of risks, to help my family cope with caring for me should I develop Alzheimer’s.
The FDA approved the use of Aduhelm in treating Alzheimer’s. During the early stage of the disease, the patient has the best quality of life. If that period could be extended it would be invaluable to the patient and family. I want the option of taking this or other monoclonal antibodies to treat Alzheimer’s. I was shocked to read the proposed Medicare coverage policy requiring national coverage determination not only for Aduhelm but other monoclonal antibody drugs being investigated.
Taking a monoclonal antibody drug should be a decision between a patient and their doctor, not a bureaucratic proposal. To me this is government overreach and bureaucracy at its worst.
We don’t need to put patients through another clinical trial and delay something that could help them enjoy more quality of life with a fatal disease. This decision has no place in health care today.
Below are two links in support of Aduhelm by Dr. Stephen Salloway, a principal investigator in the drug’s clinical trial.
• https://www.beingpatient.com/aducanumab-drug-experimental/
• https://n.neurology.org/content/97/11/543
Lynn Cronomiz
Robeson Township
Source: Berkshire mont