{"id":7762,"date":"2025-09-28T20:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T20:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7762"},"modified":"2025-09-28T20:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T20:30:00","slug":"san-francisco-va-offers-new-therapies-for-early-stage-alzheimers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7762","title":{"rendered":"San Francisco VA offers new therapies for early-stage Alzheimer\u2019s"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"tni-source-date\"><strong>Originally published:<\/strong> 2025-09-28T20:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n<p>Veterans facing the challenges of early stage Alzheimer\u2019s disease now have a powerful ally in the <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/?s=San+Francisco+VA+Health+Care+System\">San Francisco VA Health Care System<\/a>. Recognizing the urgent need to address Alzheimer\u2019s in the Veteran community, VA is stepping up with groundbreaking treatments that give Veterans more time, more independence and more hope.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alzheimer\u2019s: A growing challenge for Veterans<\/h2>\n<p>Today, approximately 500,000 Veterans live with Alzheimer\u2019s disease, with the number projected to reach nearly 540,000 by 2033. Veterans face a higher risk than the general population, with contributing factors including traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, exposure to Agent Orange and chronic medical conditions.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stepping up for Veterans<\/h2>\n<p>In 2023, VA began covering two groundbreaking anti-amyloid therapies\u2014lecanemab (Leqembi) and donanemab (Kisunla)\u2014for eligible Veterans with early-stage Alzheimer\u2019s disease. These are the first disease-modifying treatments approved to slow cognitive decline, shown in clinical trials to reduce disease progression by 27\u201335% over 18 months, delaying the onset of more severe symptoms by four to five months.<\/p>\n<p>In March 2025, the first Veteran at San Francisco VA began treatment with one of these therapies, marking a milestone in access and innovation. For Veterans, this isn\u2019t just about medicine; it\u2019s about reclaiming quality of life and staying connected to the people and activities they value most.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guided by expertise<\/h2>\n<p>Providing these advanced treatments requires a skilled, multidisciplinary team\u2014including neurologists, geriatricians, radiologists, pharmacists and specialists from the Memory Disorders Clinic and Infusion Center. At San Francisco VA, care is coordinated through the Advanced Alzheimer\u2019s Therapeutics Committee, which ensures every patient receives a rigorous screening, a personalized treatment plan and close safety monitoring.<\/p>\n<p>Only 19 VA medical centers nationwide currently offer anti-amyloid therapies. San Francisco VA\u2019s inclusion in this select group reflects its deep expertise in Alzheimer\u2019s care and its unwavering commitment to Veterans. While these treatments are not a cure, they represent a major step forward, helping Veterans slow the disease\u2019s progression and maintain independence longer.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A partnership in the fight against Alzheimer\u2019s<\/h2>\n<p>For the Veterans beginning this therapy, the battle against Alzheimer\u2019s is deeply personal. With VA\u2019s support, they have access to cutting-edge treatments, experienced providers and a community that understands their unique challenges. Together, they are proving that with determination, medical innovation and a strong support system, progress is possible.<\/p>\n<p>An Alzheimer\u2019s diagnosis is difficult, but Veterans and their caregivers do not have to face it alone. VA is here to support Veterans and their loved ones with world-class care and resources.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s never too late to apply for VA health care you\u2019ve earned. If you are a Veteran or know a Veteran who has not yet applied for their VA health care benefits, learn how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.choose.va.gov\/health\" rel=\"noopener\">get started<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">This article was originally published on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/san-francisco-health-care\/stories\/slowing-the-progression-offering-access-and-hope\/\" rel=\"noopener\">VA San Francisco Health Care site<\/a> and has been edited for style and clarity.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p class=\"tni-attribution\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/142914\/va-offers-new-therapies-early-stage-alzheimers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>San Francisco VA offers new Alzheimer\u2019s treatment to slow symptoms in Veterans. Innovative therapy provides hope and early intervention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":151,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7762","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>San Francisco VA offers new therapies for early-stage Alzheimer\u2019s - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"San Francisco VA offers new Alzheimer\u2019s treatment to slow symptoms in Veterans. 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