Living with Alzheimer's disease Di's way

In the heart of Mississippi, Diana "Di" Fillhart, a vibrant 68-year-old, lives a life defined by purpose and an unwavering commitment to others. As a retired pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse, religious missionary and restaurant owner, Di's life has always been one of service.

Recently, her days have been filled with cherished companionship from her two granddaughters aged 6 and 11, friends and her church community. Di has always been one to stay in charge of her own life, a trait that would soon be tested in profound ways.

The shadow of Alzheimer's disease (AD) loomed large in Di's family history. Her father's final years, marked by a slow erosion of identity, had etched a deep fear into Di's heart. She vowed she would never become a shell of herself when her own journey with memory issues surfaced in 2022, as she found herself forgetting conversations with her grandchildren.

Driven by her fierce determination, Di sought out a neurologist. After a spinal tap and cognitive testing that same year, she received the diagnosis: mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the earliest recognizable stage of AD.

MCI may not be recognized or diagnosed right away because the symptoms can be very subtle and similar to typical signs of aging. Common symptoms of MCI, or early AD, include:

• Forgetting names or information you just learned,
• Confusion, such as asking the same question repeatedly,
• Struggling to find the right words and
• Difficulty concentrating and keeping track of household tasks.

These are not all the signs and symptoms of early AD, only a doctor can diagnose AD.

Because AD is a progressive disease, meaning it gets worse over time, it is crucial to recognize the signs, speak with a doctor and work with them to get an accurate and early diagnosis. Some treatment options for AD are only accessible during the disease's early stages.

Di's neurologist recommended that she begin treatment with LEQEMBI^® (lecanemab-irmb) as soon as possible. After the neurologist explained the potentially serious risks, Di carefully considered her options and decided to proceed with biweekly LEQEMBI intravenous (IV) treatment.

LEQEMBI is a prescription medicine used to treat people with early AD, which includes MCI or mild dementia stage of disease. After completing 18 months of intravenous (IV) infusions of LEQEMBI every two weeks, people have the option to either continue with this IV dosing regimen, transition to the once every four weeks IV maintenance dosing regimen, or transition to a weekly maintenance regimen administered at home with the subcutaneous autoinjector (SC-AI), which injects LEQEMBI under your skin.

Di's spirit remains undimmed and she feels good about her treatment. "I was determined to fight this disease and do whatever I can," she stated. "I feel like I am on the path to maintaining who I am for longer with LEQEMBI." Other people on LEQEMBI may have a different experience.

In an 18-month study of people with early AD, LEQEMBI was shown to significantly slow the progression of the disease when compared to people not taking LEQEMBI. Ongoing treatment with LEQEMBI may help prolong the benefit of therapy, helping people like Di continue doing the things they love for longer. LEQEMBI is not a cure for AD and does not stop its progression.

LEQEMBI fights AD in two ways. It removes existing amyloid-beta plaque, the clumps of protein that accumulate in the brain and contribute to disease progression, and targets harmful amyloid proteins called protofibrils, which can continue to damage brain nerve cells even after the plaque is removed.

LEQEMBI can cause serious side effects, including amyloid related imaging abnormalities (ARIA). ARIA is a side effect that does not usually cause any symptoms, but serious symptoms can occur. ARIA can be fatal. ARIA commonly shows up as temporary swelling in areas of the brain that usually goes away over time. Some people may have small spots of bleeding in or on the surface of the brain; sometimes larger areas of bleeding have occurred. Tell your doctor right away if you notice: headache, confusion that gets worse, dizziness, vision changes, nausea, difficulty walking or speaking, seizures, or muscle weakness. Talk to your doctor about testing to see if you have a genetic risk factor (homozygous apolipoprotein E gene carriers) that may cause an increased risk for ARIA. It is important to also tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including medications to reduce blood clots from forming such as antithrombotic medicines like aspirin, which may increase the risk of developing bleeding in the brain. LEQEMBI may also cause serious allergic reactions as well as infusion- and injection-related reactions. Most common side effects include infusion-related reactions, ARIA and headaches. These are not all the possible side effects of LEQEMBI. Please see Important Safety Information below.

Di's granddaughters remain her greatest motivation and give her purpose. Since receiving an AD diagnosis, she has been able to continue doing the things she loves, including spending time with her granddaughters, swimming and being active in her church community.

Her journey is not one of quiet suffering, but of open advocacy. "Fear can get in the way of living life for people with AD, and I am outspoken about my experience to help encourage others to keep moving forward and stop letting fear rule their lives," she asserted.

Di is living, loving and leading the way forward for her family, for her community and for herself.

If you or someone you love may be living with AD, it's important to speak with a doctor. To learn more about LEQEMBI, visit www.LEQEMBI.com.

Diana Fillhart was compensated for her participation in the story.

WHAT IS LEQEMBI?

LEQEMBI is a prescription medicine used to treat people with early Alzheimer's disease, which includes mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia stage of disease.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about LEQEMBI?

LEQEMBI can cause serious side effects, including:

ARIA (Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities). ARIA is a side effect that does not usually cause any symptoms, but serious symptoms can occur. ARIA can be fatal.

• ARIA commonly shows up as temporary swelling in areas of the brain that usually goes away over time

• Small spots of bleeding in or on the surface of the brain can occur

• Less often, larger areas of bleeding in the brain can occur

• Most people with ARIA don't have any symptoms. However, some people may notice:
  • headache
  • confusion that gets worse
  • dizziness
  • vision changes
  • nausea
  • difficulty walking
  • seizures
  • difficulty speaking
  • muscle weakness

• Some people have a gene called ApoE4 that may increase the risk of ARIA. Talk to your healthcare provider about testing to see if you have this gene
  
  
• You may be at a higher risk of developing bleeding in the brain if you take medicines to reduce blood clots from forming (antithrombotic medicines) while receiving LEQEMBI. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if any of the medicines you're taking increase this risk
  
  
• Your healthcare provider will check for ARIA with MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans before you start LEQEMBI and during treatment
  
  
• You should carry information that says you are receiving LEQEMBI, which can cause ARIA, and that ARIA symptoms can look like stroke symptoms

Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

Serious allergic reactions:

Do not receive LEQEMBI if you have serious allergic reactions to LEQEMBI, LEQEMBI IQLIK, or any of the ingredients.

• Tell your healthcare provider if you notice any symptoms during or after a LEQEMBI infusion, including:

• • swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or tongue
  • itchy bumps on the skin, also known as hives
  • difficulty breathing

Infusion-related reactions:

• Infusion-related reactions can occur during or after completion with LEQEMBI injection into a vein (intravenously), which can be serious. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice any of these symptoms:

• • fever
  • flu-like symptoms (chills, body aches, feeling shaky, joint pain)
  • nausea and/or vomiting
  • dizziness or lightheadedness
  • fast or slow heart rate, or feeling like your chest is pounding
  • difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • changes in blood pressure

• If you have an infusion-related reaction, your healthcare provider may give you medicines before your next infusion to lower the chance of having a reaction

Injection-related reactions:

• Injection-related reactions may occur with LEQEMBI injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection with LEQEMBI IQLIK). Tell your healthcare provider if you notice any of these symptoms during or after an injection:

• • redness, swelling, heat, pain, itching, rash, bruising, and blood collection under the skin at the injection site
  • headache, fatigue, or fever may also be observed after an injection

The most common side effects of LEQEMBI include infusion-related reactions, ARIA, and headaches.

These are not all the possible side effects of LEQEMBI. Call your doctor for more information and medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before receiving LEQEMBI, tell your healthcare provider about:

• All your medical conditions, including if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed. It is not known if LEQEMBI could harm your unborn or breastfeeding baby

• All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take medicines to reduce blood clots from forming (antithrombotic medicines, including aspirin)

LEQEMBI (lecanemab-irmb) is available as:

• Intravenous infusion: 100 mg/mL
• Subcutaneous injection: 200 mg/mL

Please see Medication Guide with Instructions for Use and full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING, for LEQEMBI.

LEQE-US5042 © Eisai Inc. February 2026