Dr. Afef Hammami, a specialist in geriatric medicine and president of the Tunisian Association for the Fight Against Alzheimer’s Disease, has announced a major medical breakthrough. It is now possible to detect Alzheimer’s disease years before the first symptoms appear, thanks to a simple laboratory blood test.
A blood test approved in the United States
In a statement to the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) agency, Dr. Hammami explained that this blood test can detect the buildup of proteins in the brain—particularly beta-amyloid, which is closely linked to the development of Alzheimer’s. The test, recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), marks a true revolution in medical science.
She noted that Tunisia could adopt this early diagnostic method in the coming years, once it is approved by the European Medicines Agency. Early detection could significantly reduce the need for complex diagnostic procedures and allow for timely intervention before cognitive decline begins.
A new treatment that slows disease progression
Dr. Hammami also highlighted the arrival of a new drug, Leqembi, which received marketing authorization in Europe in April 2025, after FDA approval two years earlier. This medication is considered a major therapeutic advancement, as it directly targets the disease itself, rather than just alleviating symptoms. It has been shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s by 27%.
Administered as an injection every 15 days over an 18-month period, Leqembi is most effective when given at the earliest stages of the disease—when mild memory loss or difficulty in decision-making first appear. The treatment, however, is expensive, with an estimated cost of around 50,000 Tunisian dinars.
Benefits for patients and the healthcare system
The drug works by reducing beta-amyloid accumulation in the brain, a protein that disrupts communication between neurons and leads to cell death. This accumulation is believed to be caused by a combination of factors, including chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, and genetic predisposition.
Dr. Hammami described the developments in the past two years as a “scientific revolution,” noting that Alzheimer’s was long considered untreatable. These advancements now offer hope for patients and their families, improving quality of life and easing the emotional, social, and economic burden on caregivers and the national healthcare system.
Concerning numbers in Tunisia
Although there are no official statistics, estimates suggest that between 50,000 and 150,000 people are currently living with Alzheimer’s in Tunisia, with 500 to 600 new cases diagnosed each year.
Given this growing concern, early detection and access to cutting-edge treatments could prove vital in addressing the needs of an aging population and tackling one of the country’s most pressing public health challenges.
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