New Hope for Dementia and Alzheimer’s: What the Kisunla Breakthrough Means for Families and Carers

Why Recognising the Signs Early Makes a Real Difference

One of the most important shifts in Alzheimer’s care is the growing emphasis on early recognition. As new treatments become available, timing matters more than ever.

Many families initially feel unsure about what they’re noticing. Is it simply part of normal ageing, or something that requires medical attention? Subtle memory lapses, small changes in behaviour, or difficulty completing familiar tasks often develop gradually, making them easy to dismiss or rationalise.



Understanding the difference between typical age-related changes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia can provide much-needed clarity. When families recognise that certain patterns may signal something more than ageing, they are better positioned to seek professional advice with confidence.

Having clear, trustworthy information from the outset empowers families to move from uncertainty to action. And in the context of Alzheimer’s disease, that earlier step can make a meaningful difference in the path ahead.

What Is Kisunla (Donanemab) and How Does It Work?

Kisunla, also known by its scientific name donanemab, is a newly approved medication for people living with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. 



Unlike older medicines that mainly ease symptoms, Kisunla is a monoclonal antibody therapy designed to target amyloid-beta plaques, clumps of protein fragments thought to play a key role in Alzheimer’s disease. The drug binds to these plaques and helps clear them from the brain, which may slow declines in memory, thinking, and daily functioning.

It is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion every four weeks. 

In clinical studies, some people were able to end treatment early once their amyloid plaques fell below a certain threshold, a potential advantage over similar drugs. 

A thorough evaluation, including cognitive tests and imaging such as PET scans, is needed before starting the drug to confirm the presence of amyloid plaques. 

Is it approved in Australia?

Kisunla (donanemab) was officially approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on 19 May 2025 and added to the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) as a treatment for adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.

However, approval doesn’t necessarily mean easy or widespread access. Even though Kisunla can be prescribed by specialists, many patients may still face significant barriers, such as eligibility requirements (genetic testing and early-stage diagnosis), limited specialist availability, and the high out-of-pocket cos,t unless future funding support (e.g., through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) is secured.

Who Is Eligible for Kisunla?

Kisunla is intended for adults who:

• Are experiencing mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia caused by Alzheimer’s, and
• Have confirmatory evidence of amyloid plaques in the brain, and
• Carry one or no copies of the apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4) gene — a genetic factor linked with Alzheimer’s risk. 



It’s not suitable for people in moderate or advanced stages of Alzheimer’s where daily functioning is already significantly affected.

What the Evidence Shows

Clinical trial results indicate that people treated with Kisunla experienced a significant slowing in disease progression compared to those given a placebo. After about 18 months, the treatment group showed reduced declines in memory and thinking as well as a lower risk of advancing to more severe stages of the disease.

It’s crucial to set expectations clearly:

• Kisunla does not restore the brain to “normal”
• People can still decline over time
• The goal is to slow progression, which can translate to more time living independently and more time with meaningful daily functioning
  
  

For carers, slowing the pace can mean:

• fewer sudden drops in function
• more stable routines
• reduced risk from confusion-related incidents
• more time to plan, organise support, and adjust the home environment



Side Effects and Monitoring

Like all medications, Kisunla can cause side effects. It requires careful medical supervision because it can cause brain swelling and brain bleeding.

These potential effects are carefully monitored by healthcare providers, especially early in treatment. Infusion-related reactions such as chills, nausea, or fever may also occur.

This is why Kisunla isn’t something people start casually. It’s a specialist-led pathway with strict criteria, testing and ongoing monitoring.



Cost and access in Australia

At present, Kisunla is not yet subsidised on Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). That means patients would face significant out-of-pocket costs for the medication itself, the infusion sessions, and the necessary MRI and specialist consultations. 



What carers and families can do now

If memory, judgement, mood, or daily functioning is changing, book a GP appointment and take notes beforehand (examples help). Dementia Australia and Better Health Channel both stress that early symptoms can be subtle and worth checking.



2) Ask about assessment and referral pathways

Your GP can guide you toward cognitive screening and, where appropriate, referral to memory clinics or specialists for deeper testing.



3) Keep safety front-of-mind at home

Even with treatment progress, dementia can bring wandering, falls risk, medication mix-ups, missed meals, or delayed help in an emergency. Safety planning remains essential.



4) Build a support system around the carer too

Carer stress is real. It affects sleep, health, and decision-making. Support, respite and shared responsibility make a meaningful difference over time.



Combining Medical Progress With Everyday Safety and Support

New treatments like Kisunla (donanemab) show that Alzheimer’s disease can be identified earlier and managed more proactively than in the past. While these medical advances offer hope, they work best when paired with practical, everyday support that helps people remain safe as their needs change.

INS LifeGuard supports people living with dementia by providing 24/7 access to emergency assistance through monitored personal alarms, wearable devices that can be used both at home and out in the community. 

These services help ensure that if a person becomes confused, falls, or needs urgent help, support is quickly available. For families and carers, this added layer of monitoring and rapid response offers reassurance that their loved one is not facing dementia alone.

Together, early diagnosis, emerging treatments, and reliable safety support can help people living with dementia maintain independence for longer, while giving carers and families greater peace of mind at every stage of the journey.