The Federal Drug Administration granted accelerated approval for lecanemab, a drug which has been shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer's Disease in early stages.

The drug will help about 5.8 million people suffering from Alzheimer's nationwide (according to the C.D.C.), and will be sold under the brand name "Leqembi."

"This is the second approved drug in a class of drugs that really help to treat the underlying biology of Alzheimer's disease," said Sara Murphy, Vice President of Programs & Services at the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Pennsylvania. "For those living in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, [and] for those living with mild cognitive impairment. And so what this means is that there is more time for them to be with their loved ones in the earliest and the most high functioning stages of the disease."

Trials saw the medicine slowing down cognitive decline by 27% over an 18 month period.