Alzheimer’s Treatment
Wednesday, July 28, 2004

Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating problem, not only for the patient, but for the family as well.  In today’s Sixty Second Housecall, Dr. Ken discusses a new medication that may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s Disease affects about 4.5 million people in the United States.  There is no cure for this deadly disease, but there are medications that might slow it down.  These drugs work to restore the abnormal brain chemistry in Alzheimer’s Disease.  Cholinesterase Inhibitors such as Reminyl, Aricept and Exelon have been used for several years in the United States.  They increase a brain chemical called acetylcholine.

In October 2003, the FDA approved a new medication called Namenda.  This drug targets a different brain chemical called glutamine and actually decreases the level.

Since these drugs target different brain chemicals, recent studies used them together to see if the patients did better with the combination.  These studies did confirm that Namenda used in combination with one of the anticholinesterase inhibitors, Aricept,produced a greater benefit than Namenda used alone.

Side effects of Namenda were rare and most commonly included confusion.

These drugs are not inexpensive, and are not a cure, but they may help to delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.  For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.