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Lecanemab (Leqembi) is a medicine given to slow the progression of mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). This medicine reduces clumps of proteins called amyloid-beta proteins that play a key role in AD. Reducing amyloid-beta proteins in the brain modestly slows memory and thinking decline from AD.

Lecanemab is for people who have early symptomatic AD. A recent trial of the medicine showed that taking lecanemab over 18 months slowed the rate of cognitive decline. It's not yet known whether the medicine helps in other ways such as slowing development of AD in people without symptoms of memory loss.

Lecanemab is given as an IV infusion every two weeks. Your care team watches for side effects and asks you or your caregiver how your body reacts to the medicine.

Because lecanemab is a new medicine, there is still much to learn about it. Some people who take lecanemab have side effects such as:

• Dizziness.
• Headache.
• Visual changes.
• Worsening confusion.
• Swelling or bleeding in the brain.
• Brain shrinkage.
• Rarely, death.