Alzheimer’s disease

A new study of the effectiveness of Alzheimer’s drug Aricept shows that it continues to enhance cognition and functional abilities in patients with mild to moderate symptoms, over an extended period of time. Results of the 144-week study assessing Aricept were presented this week at the meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Toronto.

“These results confirm that the clinical benefits of ARICEPT are sustained over time and that treatment is also well tolerated over the long-term,” said Dr. Rachelle Doody, of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. “This is good news for Alzheimer’s disease patients and their healthcare providers: we have a medical treatment that enhances cognition and everyday function or delays cognitive decline for a significant period of time, even years,” she said.

Alzheimer’s disease affects approximately 200,000 Canadians, and costs the healthcare system over $3 billion a year. By the year 2030, the number of Alzheimer’s sufferers in Canada is expected to rise to half a million.