New drug offers fresh hope for Alzheimer sufferers

A NEW drug that experts are claiming halts the progress of Alzheimer's will give people hope, a local carer has said. Clare de la Rue, whose mother has the degenerative condition, said each new find by scientists gave people affected by the disease hope that a breakthrough would eventually be found.

A number of supposed 'miracle drugs' have been highlighted in the media over the last 18 months – never to be heard of again. But new drugs are being tested all the time and the latest, called Rember, allegedly stops the disease progressing by as much as 81%.

It was tested on 321 people with mild or moderate Alzheimer's and, after 50 weeks, it was found that those taking a capsule of Rember every day experienced 81%-less mental decline compared to those who took the placebo.

'There are going to be more and more cases of Alzheimer's because of the ageing population so there has to be some good that comes from all these drugs that are being tested,' Mrs de la Rue said. 'I think it shows that there is hope for the future.'

Professor Clive Ballard, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said there was a long way to go before the treatment would become available to patients.