Jupiter woman among first to receive newly approved Alzheimer's drug

JUPITER, Fla. (CBS12) — A Jupiter grandmother on Thursday became one of the first people to receive a newly approved drug to help treat Alzheimer's disease.

Chantal Desgrosseilles, 79, went to Palm Beach Comprehensive Neurology in Jupiter for her first treatment with Kisunra, a newly FDA-approved Alzheimer's disease drug.

Her doctor, Jennifer Buchner, told CBS12 News that Chantal is the first patient on Florida's east coast to receive the drug.

Chantal was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment about a year and a half ago.

“I talk about a place I went to six months ago and I can't remember it straight away, and that's how it started,” Chantal said.

Her mother has Alzheimer's disease and she began to worry when she began to become more forgetful.

“Sometimes I can't remember things and it's very frustrating,” Chantal said. “I saw what happened to my mother and I realised I was starting to have the same symptoms and it scared me.”

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At the time, she didn't want to forget anything, especially her two children and several grandchildren, so she turned to her husband, Andre, for help.

“If on the first day I couldn't remember any of their names, that would be a catastrophe for me. I don't even want to think about it,” Chantal said.

Andre is a physician and immediately began researching treatments for his wife, whom he has been married to for over 50 years.

“Thankfully, it's still early days for her, which is why we have such high hopes,” Andre said. “She's my love.”

Dr. Buchner says Chantal is the perfect patient for the drug.

“She actually had the plaques that lead to Alzheimer's disease, so if she had continued living without this treatment, she would have undoubtedly developed Alzheimer's disease in a few years,” Dr. Buchner said.

The drug targets a substance called amyloid, which is thought to be one of the main causes of Alzheimer's disease, and the hope is that the once-monthly treatment will remove plaque and amyloid.

“The goal is to remove amyloid plaques from the brain, and by doing so we think we can reduce the progression of the disease by about 35 percent. And we can also prevent the disease from progressing to the next stage,” Dr. Buchner said.

Dr. Buchner says clinical trial data shows patients don't need to take the drug forever.

“Some patients are able to wean themselves off the medication in about six months, but the majority are able to wean themselves off the medication in about 12 months, and some in about 18 months,” Dr. Buchner said.

Dr. Buchner says there are some side effects.

“The main side effect is something called Aria, which is an amyloid-related imaging abnormality that can manifest as microbleeds or macrobleeds in the brain, or swelling in the brain,” Bukziner said. “Frequent MRI monitoring will be required, but we will work with your doctor to follow the plan and protocol in place to ensure the safety of all patients.”

The treatment gave Chantal hope.

“I'm very grateful to be allowed to do that,” Chantal said. “I'll do whatever it takes to make sure my mother's opinion isn't negatively affected. That's it. Hopefully, it will work out. I'm very positive. We'll see what happens.”

Dr. Buchner says it's important for people to know that the drug is intended for people with very mild cognitive impairment or the early signs of Alzheimer's disease.

“This is for people who are just starting to forget things — kids who are repeating the same story over and over, or can't remember where they put their keys — it's not for people who are very forgetful,” Dr. Buchsaner said.

Chantal said the love and support she has received from her husband and family has been amazing.

“We all need some support at some times in our lives more than others, and this is one of those times, but we all need help,” Chantal said.

Buchner told CBS12 News that this new treatment could be a stepping stone to further progress in the fight against Alzheimer's.

“This is a really exciting area of ​​neurology, but it hasn't changed much in 30 or 40 years. But I think there's an opportunity now. A lot is going to happen in this field, and it's going to happen very rapidly over the next few years,” Dr. Buchner said.

Chantal's doctor said she was the first patient to receive the treatment, but five more patients were due to start on Friday.