Strong Legs, Better Outcomes? What a New Leqembi Study Found About Frailty
Friday, October 30, 2026
When we think about Alzheimer's treatment, we usually think about the brain: memory tests, brain scans, blood tests. A study reported yesterday is a reminder that the rest of the body matters too.
What happened. Doctors at Korea University Guro Hospital in Seoul followed 187 people with early Alzheimer's disease who started lecanemab (brand name Leqembi) between December 2024 and May 2026. Before the first infusion, they checked physical strength and function: balance, walking speed over about 13 feet, and how easily people could stand up from a chair several times in a row. They also measured muscle mass and grip strength. About 28% of patients counted as physically frail, and about 34% had sarcopenia (age-related loss of muscle mass and strength) (journal article, Aging and Disease; Health Chosun report, Oct 29, 2026).
What they found. People who were frail or had sarcopenia before treatment got worse faster on a standard rating of memory, thinking and everyday function during their first year on the drug, even after the researchers accounted for age, sex, education, genes and how advanced the disease was. Frail patients also had more infusion-related reactions (side effects linked to receiving a dose): 38.5% compared with 17.0%. Frailty was not linked to ARIA, the brain swelling or small bleeds that are the drug's best-known risk. And a blood marker of Alzheimer's changes (p-tau217) changed about the same way in both groups, which suggests frailty may reflect something about overall health and resilience that brain tests alone don't capture.
What it can't tell us. This was an observational study at one hospital, with no untreated comparison group and fairly short follow-up. It shows a link, not cause and effect. It doesn't show that frailty makes Leqembi work less well, and it doesn't show that building strength would change the results. The lead researcher, Professor Kang Sung-hoon, said the team plans to study whether exercise and better nutrition can help. For more on the drug itself, see Lecanemab (Leqembi) and ARIA side effects.
Try this today: notice how easily you get out of a chair
The test in this study was simple, and so is this. Next time you stand up from a sturdy chair, notice whether you need your hands or a push to get up, and whether you feel steady on your feet. If it's getting harder for you or someone you care for, mention it at the next checkup. That's especially important for anyone on, or thinking about, an Alzheimer's drug. Ask whether physical therapy or a strength program would be safe and helpful. Regular movement is good for the brain in many ways; see exercise and the brain. If balance is a worry, use a chair with arms, have someone nearby, and read our guide to preventing falls. Check with the doctor before starting a new exercise routine.
Thanks for reading, and take care of yourself today.
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