Clinical trials for at least seven Alzheimer's disease vaccines, aiming to leverage the immune system to eliminate disease-related proteins such as beta-amyloid or tau, are underway or completed. 

This resurgence in vaccine development followed a setback over two decades ago when an initial vaccine attempt was abandoned due to 6% of volunteers developing life-threatening brain inflammation known as meningoencephalitis.

Researchers subsequently shifted focus towards a safer approach, utilizing precisely targeted manufactured antibodies that bypass the body's immune system. 

Citing Dr. Reisa Sperling from Mass General Brigham in Boston, Reuters noted the potential of vaccines in Alzheimer's disease prevention, leading trials targeting individuals with Alzheimer's disease proteins in their brain and considering expanding studies to asymptomatic individuals with these proteins in their blood.

While these vaccines are still in the early stages, their potential as a more accessible alternative to existing treatments like Leqembi, which require frequent infusions, offers hope for the global Alzheimer's disease population, estimated at 39 million.

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