YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX(- The FDA earlier this month approved accelerated approval for lecanemab, (la-cane-a-mab) a drug aimed at slowing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Leslie Morrow, Executive Director of the South Dakota Alzheimer’s Association, says the approval is another positive sign.

Morrow says this drug takes a different approach to the disease.

Morrow says another drug, aduhelm, (add-you-helm) that was approved over a year ago show research is accelerating.

About nineteen thousand people in South Dakota have Alzheimer’s and that number is expected to increase as the population ages.