After decades of unsuccessful research, two new drugs and a pioneering blood test have recently given Alzheimer's patients hope of fighting back against the debilitating disease -- but questions remain about their effectiveness.

Any path toward a cure also remains elusive for Alzheimer's, which accounts for around 70 percent of dementia cases worldwide and is a leading cause of death among the elderly.

Ahead of Alzheimer's Day on Sunday, here is what to know about recent advances to prevent, diagnose and treat the disease.

- How effective are the new drugs? -

Billions of dollars have been spent trying to find a treatment for Alzheimer's disease over the decades, but those efforts have stubbornly fallen short -- at least until recently.

Eli Lilly's donanemab and Biogen and Eisai's leca

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