Jessica Söderfjord was only 54 years old when she received her Alzheimer's diagnosis, confirmed through a cerebrospinal fluid test at a memory clinic. She is now 56 and previously worked as a care administrator. Describing her diagnosis, she said, 'It was as if someone pulled the rug out from under me.
' Jessica Söderfjord is currently taking medication that gives some effect, but medications that attack amyloid plaques in the brain are unavailable to Swedes. Last year, such plaque-reducing drugs were first approved by the European Medicines Agency. Jessica Söderfjord is fighting for Swedes in early disease stages to be offered these new EU-approved Alzheimer's medications.
It was as if someone pulled the rug out from under me. Absolutely terrible.
Whether they will be used in Sweden is undecided, pending a spring recommendation from the NT Council, a collaboration body for Swedish regions. The Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) will heavily influence this decision. TLV has noted uncertainty factors with Leqembi, one new medication, concluding it reduces plaques but its effect on cognitive ability is unclear due to limited study duration.
' If introduced, TLV warns demand will rise as the drug requires biweekly IV hospital administration and MR follow-ups, becoming costly and risking displacement of other patient groups. Jessica Söderfjord expressed concern, stating, 'We become very easily sidelined. ' The NT Council's specific recommendation and how Sweden will handle increased costs and demand remain unknown.
We become very easily sidelined. We are a grateful group to prioritize away.