What you just did — forgotten in an instant. A familiar route — suddenly unrecognizable. Behind these moments are families quietly being eroded by Alzheimer's disease. Of the over 55 million patients worldwide, China accounts for roughly one-quarter. For years, traditional treatments could only manage symptoms, unable to slow the disease's relentless progression.
At the end of 2024, a new drug capable of directly clearing disease-causing proteins from the brain — Donanemab injection — received approval in China. In 2025, it officially entered clinical use, marking a fundamental shift in Alzheimer's treatment from "treating symptoms" to "treating the cause."
"Recently, the Neurology Center at Jiahui International Hospital successfully administered its first Donanemab treatment, bringing new hope of slowing disease progression to a patient with early-stage Alzheimer's."
For millions of families, every forgotten moment represents a piece of a shared life slipping away.
From Symptom Relief to Disease Modification
The core pathology of Alzheimer's disease lies in the abnormal accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and Tau protein tangles in the brain, leading to neuronal damage and memory decline.
For decades, clinical medications focused mainly on symptom relief. Donanemab, as a disease-modifying therapy (DMT), targets the root cause. It activates the body's immune system to specifically clear amyloid plaques from the brain, thereby reducing toxic damage to neurons and potentially effectively slowing the progression of cognitive decline.
The drug is indicated for patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease, confirmed by imaging to have amyloid plaques present.
"This represents a fundamental shift in treatment philosophy. We are no longer passively responding to symptoms — we are actively intervening in the core biological processes of the disease."
— Jiahui Neurology Expert
First Treatment: A Multi-Disciplinary Safety Shield
A 70-year-old male patient who had experienced progressive memory decline over three years visited Dr. Feng Yu at the Neurology outpatient clinic six months ago for a comprehensive specialized evaluation. Despite basic pharmacological treatment, symptom improvement was limited.
After thorough cognitive assessment, blood testing, and imaging, the neurology team determined he met the criteria for Donanemab treatment and initiated the hospital's first case.
Every patient carries a lifetime of memories — and a family that refuses to let them fade.
This was never going to be a simple infusion. At Jiahui, it was backed by a rigorous Team Medicine multi-disciplinary collaborative care system.
On treatment day, a neurologist-led SOP was executed with the Hospitalist team and Nursing team closely monitoring the entire infusion process. After the first infusion, the patient remained stable. Follow-up MRI specific sequences showed stability in the brain, with no significant treatment-related structural changes.
Under the protocol, the patient will receive treatment every four weeks, with the potential to discontinue medication once targets are met. Throughout the treatment cycle, the team will continuously monitor for potential brain edema or hemorrhage risks (ARIA) through imaging and other methods to ensure treatment safety.
The Treatment Pathway at a Glance
1. Assessment
Cognitive scales + blood + imaging
2. Infusion
Every 4 weeks, supervised
3. Monitoring
Regular MRI, ARIA screening
4. Completion
Discontinue when target reached
Dr. Chen Yan, Director of Neurology at Jiahui:
"All amyloid-clearing drugs carry ARIA risk and must be managed through rigorous imaging monitoring and professional team collaboration. What we insist on is not just administering medication — it's a comprehensive long-term management strategy that integrates cognitive training and holistic intervention."
Slowing, Not Curing — But the Meaning is Profound
It must be clear: Donanemab slows, not cures Alzheimer's disease. As its etiology has not been fully elucidated, all current new drugs aim to delay progression.
Yet these two words — "slow down" — carry immense weight for patient families. Research shows it can help early-stage mild patients extend their independent living by 37.3 months. This means not just longer autonomy, but significantly reduced caregiving burden and financial pressure on families.
"For every family searching for direction in the fog of memory, one more option is one more ray of light."
— Dr. Chen Yan, Director of Neurology, Jiahui International Hospital
For loved ones, every additional year of recognition is a priceless gift.
Lighting Hope for More Families
The successful first treatment demonstrates Jiahui's ability and efficiency in staying at the forefront of international standards for complex cognitive disorders — from precision assessment of indications, multi-disciplinary treatment delivery, to long-term follow-up management.
Leveraging a complete international-standard healthcare system, Jiahui has built a full-process line of defense for patients — from diagnosis to management, from medication to support.
Going forward, the hospital will continue advancing such frontier therapies under rigorous evaluation and monitoring, allowing more eligible patients to benefit.
Is This Right for You or a Loved One?
If you or a family member are experiencing early signs of Alzheimer's and wish to learn about disease assessment or new drug therapy, consult the Jiahui Neurology team. Professional evaluation is the essential first step.
Jiahui Neurology Center believes that precise diagnosis is the first step toward effective treatment. In neurology, we don't just treat diseases — we care about every unique life story. The center will continue to strengthen sub-specialty talent development, stay synchronized with international clinical advances in neurology, and provide higher-quality diagnostics, more refined management, and a warmer, safer care environment for every patient.
If you or a loved one recognize symptoms of a neurological condition, please seek early consultation. The Jiahui Neurology team follows evidence-based medicine, develops diagnostic and treatment pathways for each disease spectrum, and provides you with systematic evaluation, precise diagnosis, and individualized treatment.
Disclaimer & Source Attribution
This article is adapted from the original piece published by Jiahui Health (嘉会医疗) on WeChat Official Account, January 29, 2026. Content has been translated and editorially adapted for an international English-speaking audience. All medical information is reviewed by the Jiahui Neurology Center. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Original article: 阿尔茨海默病治疗迎来新选择，嘉会医疗为记忆护航