New Alzheimer's disease drug - shining hope or shimmering mirage?

After last year’s disappointment with Aduhelm, the drug that was eventually shelved by Biogen and Eisai following reactions to its controversial FDA approval, limited effectiveness and significant side effects, Eisai has released a promising statement about its trials of a new monoclonal antibody, lecanemab, which removed amyloid B in the brain and also showed a slight slowing of cognitive decline. The full data have yet to be released by Eisai, and experts have said that although the statistics are good, they may not represent a significant clinical change. But it does bring a new hope - click here for more . This news reminds us that we have a hope that does not disappoint, partly because we already have evidence of its reality.

‘And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love, (Romans 5:5, Ephesians 1:13)

But what about people who are living with dementia who have not given their lives to Christ? Can they make a decision, now? It’s a question that comes up whenever dementia is discussed. The answer is simply – yes, they can. Conviction is a work of the Holy Spirit, not a conclusion of the mind, and faith is a gift of God. An example of this at work comes from my friend Jean, who prayed for years for Brenda, a step-mother-in-law with a challenging personality and very few friends. In her old age Brenda developed dementia. During a visit Jean felt a nudge from Holy Spirit and told her again about this living hope we have of eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ. This time Brenda said yes, and followed Jean’s prayer. An unexpected surprise were conversations over the following weeks where everyone who knew her said how different she was, and now so peaceful!

Recently a wife, Ruth, told me that her husband wouldn’t listen when she spoke to him about Christ. Her question was, will he listen now that he has dementia? And how could she present it to him? He did enjoy her reading books to him, so we decided that a very personalised reading of John 14 might help. By ‘personalised,’ we mean accompanied by little personal comments. For example,

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God^, believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?’

Ruth: ‘I’m so glad that everything is prepared for us in advance, that we don’t have to worry about anything once we’re there.’

‘And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going. Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ ‘Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”

Ruth: ‘this is an invisible route to heaven but it’s very real. It’s the road I’m on and I’d like you to be on it with me!’

People with dementia find direct questions difficult because finding the answer can be challenging and even frightening when they can’t get it together. But the Scripture says that ‘deep calls to deep,’ Psalm 42, and the Holy Spirit can reach the spirit of the person, as He has done with my friend’s step-mother-in-law and others.