My Alzheimer's Journey
Part 131 - Friday, April 24, 2026
Happy Friday. I am skipping the usual Fun Friday post to bring you a few important updates and announcements.
Potential New Alzheimer’s Treatment
During the excitement and stress of Linda’s accidental fall Wednesday, I found time to read the news on my phone. I learned that pharmaceutical giant AbbVie is going to invest $1.4 billion to build a manufacturing facility in Durham, North Carolina. The 185 acre site will eventually have 734 employees. This is great news for our local economy.
I looked at AbbVie’s pipeline to see if they have an Alzheimer’s therapy under development. They have a drug acquired in 2024 when they purchased Aliada Therapeutics for $1.4 billion. The drug, known as ABBV-1758 is currently in Phase 1 trial.
In addition to acquiring ABBV-1758, AbbVie also added Aliada’s novel delivery technology, known as MODEL, to its product portfolio. MODEL is a blood-brain barrier (BBB)-crossing platform designed to transport large-molecule therapeutics, such as antibodies and oligonucleotides, into the central nervous system. Penetrating the BBB is a challenge all AD drugs face.
AbbVie is betting that MODEL and ABBV-1758 will give them the next generation Alzheimer’s drug.
ABBV-1758 is an amyloid antibody fused with a transferrin receptor that allows easy entry into the brain. (Transferrin receptor is a carrier protein.) ABBV-1758 is meant to remove amyloid plaques quickly and completely. AbbVie believes the MODEL delivery technology will ensure the success of ABBV-1758.
I will dig deeper into this exciting drug over the next few days.
Donations Update
From the moment I began My Alzheimer’s Journey, I knew that I wanted to build a space that was free and accessible to everyone - a resource for the patients, caregivers, researchers, and medical professionals who need this information most.
As this community has grown, so have the costs of keeping it running. Between professional journal subscriptions, scientific research purchases, and the several hours of research and writing I put into every single post, the expenses have become significant. While I’ve received occasional donations in the past, they haven’t been consistent enough to cover these mounting costs.
To ensure this blog remains a high-quality resource for the long haul, I’ve decided to formalize how you can support this mission. Starting today, I am introducing three ways to support the publication
Sometimes: Donate whatever you can, whenever you can. You will continue to have full access to the entire blog - nothing changes for you, and your support is deeply appreciated.
Supporters (minimum donation of $25/month): You’ll receive full access to the blog, my new Saturday feature, The Week in Review, and a permanent 5% discount at my online store.
Sponsors (minimum donation of $40/month): You’ll receive all the Supporter benefits plus a permanent 8% store discount and an invitation to a monthly live Zoom meeting. This will be an open space to talk, share, and ask me almost anything on your mind. I will schedule multiple times if needed to make sure our international friends can join in.
I never want a person’s financial situation to stand between them and the support they find here, but I also want to ensure My Alzheimer’s Journey is sustainable. If you’re able to, please consider contributing so I can continue to share insight with you and the many caregivers and families who are following My Alzheimer’s Journey.
Please support at the level that feels right for you. I am so grateful to have you alongside me on my Alzheimer’s journey.
Update on Linda
The orthopedic specialists decided yesterday that surgery to repair her femur fracture can likely be avoided with a combination of immobilization (using a brace) and physical rehabilitation. At the moment, the focus is pain management and immobilization.
She was moved from the University of North Carolina Hospital main campus to a regional campus more suited for her treatment. I expect Linda will remain in the hospital for a week or two.
This situation has added unexpected stress and challenges for all of us. We have endured a lot since my Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and with the support of friends and family, we will prevail through this difficult period.
We appreciate everyone’s prayers, thoughts, and support.
I had trouble sleeping last night, so Big Bit decided she would use my hand as a pillow. Her comforting touch helped distract me from our current challenges.
I hope each of you have a great weekend. I will be here on Monday with information to help all of us deal with the horrible disease known as Alzheimer’s.
My Alzheimer’s Journey does not offer paid subscriptions. Instead, we depend on subscriber donations to cover the cost of research and writing. Additionally, all donations support my direct and indirect Alzheimer’s treatment expenses. Thank you.
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