Alzheimer’s treatment in China: An International Patient Guide
- MedBridgeNZ
- Jul 25
- 9 min read
Key Takeaways
China has approved lecanemab and donanemab for selected patients with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. In practice, these treatments are generally delivered through hospitals with specialist neurology, infusion, biomarker-testing, and MRI-monitoring capabilities.
Important: These medicines do not cure Alzheimer’s disease and are intended only for selected patients in the early symptomatic stage with confirmed amyloid pathology.
Eligibility generally involves specialist assessment, confirmation of amyloid pathology, baseline MRI, and a detailed safety review. APOE genotyping may be required or recommended to support ARIA risk counseling, depending on the applicable product label and hospital protocol.
Treatment protocols mandate scheduled MRI monitoring to track Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities (ARIA), requiring international patients to carefully coordinate travel and accommodation logistics.
Quick Answer
Alzheimer’s treatment in China for international patients may include lecanemab or donanemab for selected people with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. These medicines are not a cure and are not simply used after standard symptomatic treatments stop helping. Eligibility generally requires specialist assessment, confirmation of amyloid pathology, baseline MRI, and a detailed safety review.
Exact diagnostic tests, MRI schedules, medicine availability, costs, and treatment duration vary by product label and hospital protocol. Where pre-travel review is offered, international patients may first submit medical records for institutional assessment before deciding whether to travel.
MedBridgeNZ can assist with record preparation, translation, hospital communication, and travel logistics. It does not diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, determine treatment eligibility, or recommend one medicine over another.
Important: Who These Treatments Are—And Are Not—For
Disease-modifying therapies are not simply a next step after symptomatic medicines stop helping. They may be considered only for selected patients with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease, confirmed amyloid pathology, and an acceptable safety profile following specialist assessment.
These therapies were studied and approved for initiation in patients with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease or mild Alzheimer’s dementia. Their efficacy and safety have not been established for moderate or severe Alzheimer’s dementia, and treatment is generally not initiated at those stages.
What Are Lecanemab and Donanemab?
The introduction of Aβ-targeted medications represents a transition from passive symptom management to active disease-modifying treatment (DMT). Below is an objective overview of the two primary therapies currently integrated into Chinese clinical pathways.
Lecanemab A humanized anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody approved in China for selected patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. It binds aggregated soluble and insoluble forms of Aβ, including protofibrils, and reduces amyloid plaque burden.
Evidence Snapshot: Lecanemab
Source: Clarity AD Phase III Clinical Trial
Study Type: Global Multicenter, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Reported Finding: In Clarity AD, the mean worsening in CDR-SB at 18 months was 1.21 points with lecanemab and 1.66 points with placebo, an adjusted difference of 0.45 points, commonly expressed as a 27% relative slowing of decline. Amyloid PET findings were assessed in a smaller imaging substudy and should not be interpreted as evidence that symptoms were reversed.
Donanemab An Aβ-targeted monoclonal antibody approved in China for selected patients with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease. It binds an amyloid-plaque-associated form of Aβ and promotes immune-mediated clearance of amyloid plaques.
Evidence Snapshot: Donanemab
Source: TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 Phase III Clinical Trial
Study Type: Key Pivotal Clinical Study
Reported Finding: In the low-to-medium tau population, donanemab slowed decline on the iADRS by 35.1% relative to placebo over 76 weeks. In the combined study population, the relative slowing was 22.3%. These percentages describe differences on clinical rating scales and do not mean that the disease was stopped or reversed.
Objective Comparison Framework
Pathway / Option | Infusion Frequency | Treatment-Duration Approach |
Lecanemab | Intravenous infusion every 2 weeks under the current China treatment pathway. | Ongoing treatment. Any change in dosing interval or discontinuation must follow the current Chinese product information and the treating team’s decision. |
Donanemab | Intravenous infusion every 4 weeks. | In clinical trials, dosing was stopped after predefined amyloid PET clearance criteria were met. Routine-practice decisions remain subject to the product information and treating team. |
Dosing information last reviewed in July 2026. Product information and hospital protocols may change.
What Tests Are Normally Required?
Before treatment initiation, treating institutions generally require a structured baseline assessment, which may include:
Neuropsychological Baseline: Standardized assessments such as MMSE, MoCA, and CDR to quantify the stage of cognitive impairment.
Biomarker Confirmation: Confirmation of amyloid pathology using an accepted method, commonly amyloid PET or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, according to the treating institution’s protocol.
APOE Genetic Stratification: APOE ε4 status is an important ARIA risk factor, particularly in homozygous carriers. Genotyping may be required or recommended under the applicable product label or hospital protocol to support risk counseling and monitoring decisions. It does not by itself determine whether a patient will receive treatment.
ARIA and MRI Safety Monitoring
The principal safety concern associated with amyloid-targeting antibodies is Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities (ARIA). ARIA is detected on MRI and may present as edema or effusion (ARIA-E), or as microhemorrhage or superficial siderosis (ARIA-H).
While many ARIA events remain asymptomatic and are detected only on routine scans, severe cases can cause headaches, confusion, or life-threatening neurological deficits.
A baseline MRI and scheduled follow-up MRI scans are required to monitor for ARIA. Exact MRI sequences, scanner specifications, and monitoring dates should be confirmed against the current Chinese product information and the treating hospital’s protocol. Additional imaging may be required if symptoms occur or if the patient has elevated risk.
Get a Free Initial Case Check
Not sure what to submit or whether your records are ready for review? Send us your available reports for a free initial administrative check before making travel arrangements.
Selected Chinese Specialist Centers and Access Pathways
Specialist Memory Centers
These therapies are generally delivered through hospitals with specialist neurology teams, amyloid biomarker testing, infusion capability, and MRI-based ARIA monitoring.
Fudan University Huashan Hospital (Shanghai): A National Center for Neurological Diseases that reported China’s first prescription of lecanemab in June 2024 and operates a multidisciplinary cognitive-disorders pathway involving neurology, PET imaging, radiology, pharmacy, and nursing teams.
Capital Medical University Xuanwu Hospital (Beijing): A National Center for Neurological Diseases that reported the nationwide first prescription of donanemab in March 2025.
Hainan Boao Lecheng Access Pathway
Hainan Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone: A national-level medical pilot zone that supports access to certain qualifying imported drugs and medical devices through designated institutions. Some eligible products imported and used under the applicable pilot-zone rules may receive zero-tariff treatment; this does not apply automatically to every medicine, hospital, or patient.
Costs and Insurance: What Is and Is Not Guaranteed
Total costs may include specialist consultations, amyloid biomarker testing, baseline and follow-up MRI scans, infusion administration, medication, laboratory testing, and travel-related expenses. Costs vary by institution, treatment duration, monitoring requirements and, depending on the medicine, dose-related factors such as patient weight. All quotations should be confirmed with the institution before travel.
China’s 2025 Commercial Health Insurance Innovative Drug List, effective from 1 January 2026, includes Alzheimer’s disease medicines and provides a policy reference for participating Chinese commercial insurers.
Insurance Note: Inclusion in a Chinese policy catalogue is not equivalent to coverage under an overseas insurance plan.
It does not guarantee reimbursement, preauthorization, or direct billing. Coverage for international patients depends on the individual policy, insurer, hospital, treatment indication, and prior approval. MedBridgeNZ can assist with document preparation and communication but cannot determine or guarantee insurance coverage.
Hainan Visa-Free Entry: Scope and Limitations
Eligible passport holders from 59 countries may enter Hainan visa-free for permitted short-term purposes, including medical care, for up to 30 days. See our China visa-free medical travel guide for an overview of other visa-free entry arrangements that may apply according to nationality and itinerary. Under this policy, the permitted area of stay is limited strictly to Hainan Province.
Patients requiring a longer stay or travel to another province, such as transferring to a hospital in Shanghai or Beijing, may need to apply for an appropriate visa or stay document through the competent immigration authority. Patients considering an extended stay can review our guide to possible S1/S2 visa pathways for medical travel. Approval is not automatic or guaranteed. MedBridgeNZ can help patients understand commonly requested documentation and coordinate with the hospital, but immigration applications and decisions remain under the authority of the relevant Chinese government departments.
Some travelers may qualify under a separate nationwide or bilateral visa-free arrangement. The most favorable applicable entry policy and permitted travel area should be checked immediately before departure.
How International Patients Access Alzheimer’s Treatment in China
Navigating a cross-border healthcare system for complex neurological therapies requires exacting precision. MedBridgeNZ utilizes a structured logistical framework to manage the administrative friction of international care:
Initial Case Intake: Clients submit preliminary medical records and imaging reports. We execute administrative-level compilation and medical translation, ensuring document formatting aligns with the stringent intake standards of top-tier Chinese tertiary hospitals.
Institution Identification and Review Request: Based on the services requested, location preferences, language needs, and information contained in the submitted records, MedBridgeNZ identifies institutions that may offer the relevant service. With the patient’s authorization, we request a remote specialist or multidisciplinary review, where offered by the institution. The hospital independently determines case acceptance, clinical suitability, required testing, and treatment eligibility.
On-the-Ground Coordination: Once travel is confirmed, we coordinate agreed on-the-ground logistics. This includes navigating real-name registration networks, providing bilingual institutional accompaniment, and coordinating culturally appropriate transportation and accommodation.
Learn more about MedBridgeNZ’s cross-border healthcare coordination services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exact medical records are needed for a remote evaluation of mild cognitive impairment before traveling?
Institutions typically require comprehensive neuropsychological test scores (such as MMSE or MoCA), high-resolution structural MRI scans, and any preliminary blood or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker data.
Can international patients access amyloid PET diagnostics within Chinese tertiary hospitals?
Yes. Advanced memory centers and specific facilities in the Hainan Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone are equipped with the imaging capability and approved tracers used for amyloid PET assessment and confirmation of amyloid pathology.
How does a patient's APOE ε4 genetic status impact treatment protocols?
Carrying the APOE ε4 allele, particularly as a homozygote, is a significant risk factor for ARIA. Many treatment protocols require or strongly recommend APOE genotyping before treatment to support risk counseling and safety monitoring decisions. Exact requirements vary by product label and institution.
Are patients with moderate to severe dementia eligible for lecanemab or donanemab in China?
Under the current approved indications, these therapies are generally not initiated in patients with moderate or severe Alzheimer’s dementia. Their efficacy and safety have not been established for treatment initiation at those stages. The treating institution makes the final eligibility decision.
Can donanemab treatment be stopped after amyloid clearance?
In clinical trials, donanemab dosing was stopped when predefined amyloid PET clearance criteria were met. Whether and when treatment should stop in routine practice is determined by the treating team under the applicable product label and hospital protocol. Continued clinical and safety follow-up may still be required.
What happens if an MRI scan detects ARIA during the treatment cycle?
If ARIA is detected, the treating neurologist and medical team will independently initiate a standardized management protocol based on the severity and symptoms. This may involve temporarily halting infusions or increasing the frequency of MRI monitoring. MedBridgeNZ administratively coordinates the necessary adjustments to the patient's travel and accommodation itinerary.
Get a Free Records Readiness Check
Not sure whether your medical records are ready for review by a specialist memory clinic in China?
Send us the reports and imaging documents you currently have. The MedBridgeNZ Patient Care Team will conduct a free initial administrative check to identify commonly requested documents, explain any apparent gaps, and outline the next coordination steps.
There is no need to commit to travel or treatment at this stage. Where appropriate and with your authorization, MedBridgeNZ can also arrange medical-record translation and submit an institutional review request to a relevant hospital or specialist.
We aim to respond within one business day. This is an administrative document-readiness check and does not include diagnosis, medical advice, or an assessment of treatment eligibility. Hospital acceptance, specialist availability, and all clinical decisions remain subject to independent institutional review.
References
van Dyck, C. H., et al. “Lecanemab in Early Alzheimer’s Disease.” The New England Journal of Medicine, 2023.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2212948
Sims, J. R., et al. “Donanemab in Early Symptomatic Alzheimer Disease: The TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 2 Randomized Clinical Trial.” JAMA, 2023.https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2807533
National Medical Products Administration of China. “Lecanemab Injection Approved for Marketing by China NMPA.”https://english.nmpa.gov.cn/2024-01/09/c_986552.htm
Xinhua News Agency. “Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s Therapy Donanemab Injection Approved in China.”https://www.xinhuanet.com/digital/20241218/539ccc3e3ee443bd8d27c8ece5ccc307/c.html
Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University. “Huashan Hospital Reports China’s First Prescription of Lecanemab for Alzheimer’s Disease.”https://shmc.fudan.edu.cn/news/2024/0628/c1893a141504/page.htm
ScienceNet / China Science Daily. “Xuanwu Hospital Issues China’s First Prescription of Donanemab Injection.”https://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2025/3/541368.shtm
National Healthcare Security Administration of China. “National Reimbursement Drug List and Commercial Health Insurance Innovative Drug List (2025).”https://www.nhsa.gov.cn/art/2025/12/7/art_104_18970.html
National Immigration Administration of China. “Announcement on Expanding the Permitted Purposes for Visa-Free Entry to Hainan for Citizens of 59 Countries.”https://www.nia.gov.cn/n794014/n1050181/n1050489/c1631698/content.html
Medical and Service Disclaimer
MedBridgeNZ is an international medical concierge and administrative coordination service. We do not provide diagnosis, prescribe treatment, determine eligibility for lecanemab or donanemab, or make clinical decisions.
All medical assessments, treatment recommendations, MRI monitoring decisions, and prescribing decisions are made independently by appropriately licensed physicians and the treating institution. Treatment availability, hospital acceptance, costs, insurance coverage, visa outcomes, and clinical results are not guaranteed.
This article is provided for general informational purposes and is not a substitute for advice from a neurologist, memory-clinic specialist, or other qualified healthcare professional. Patients should not start, stop, or change any treatment based on this page.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Prepared by the MedBridgeNZ using the cited peer-reviewed clinical trials, regulatory materials, and official policy sources. This page has not undergone independent clinical review.
