The Consumer Advisor

Thousands of new articles on dementia and Alzheimer's are published online every week. Unfortunately, not all of them are factual or true, making it hard for readers to distinguish fact from fiction. This article is an evidence based guide to help you distinguish facts from fictions and hype. Alzheimer’s disease is increasing among younger people. But while a three-fold increase in early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s disease among younger adults may seem frightening, many cases are prematurely diagnosed and reversible. Credit: Alz.org There are at least a dozen explanations for memory loss. Many people suffering from dementia have more than one contributing factor among causes that are mostly preventable, temporary, or avoidable. That’s the good news. The bad news is that your average doctor may not be fully aware of that. A study published in May in the  Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease  pointed out that no pharmaceutical options for Alzheimer’s and dementia have offered impro...

It's been several years since COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna jumped to the top of the pharma industry's sales charts, displacing longtime stalwarts with unprecedented sales. But, as 2023 featured major patent expirations, the rise of weight loss drugs and other new dynamics, the year’s ranking of the top 10 drugs by global sales featured its fair share of surprises. Merck’s oncology king Keytruda rose to the top last year, adding yet another feather in its cap. With more than 30 indications across various cancer types and stages, the PD-L1 inhibitor shows no signs of stopping. With $25 billion in global sales, the drug accounted for about 40% of Merck’s total revenue last year. Keytruda's sales are expected to reach $30 billion this year. Keytruda had previously fallen right behind AbbVie's Humira, which held the title of the world’s bestselling drug for nine years in a row until Pfizer and BioNTech’s Comirnaty knocked AbbVie’s Humira off its perch in 2021. N...