New Alzheimer's therapy may preserve quality of life
4 October 2000.
A new therapy, now approved in Australia, has been shown to help maintain the quality of life for people with mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's disease.
An international clinical trial involving 3300 patients has revealed that Exelon (rivastigmine) helped provide clinical benefits for all three key symptom areas of Alzheimer's—activities of daily living (ADL), behaviour and cognition.
By preserving these abilities, Exelon may help preserve a better quality of life for people with Alzheimer's.
The clinical studies found that patients with mild to moderately severe Alzheimer's disease who took the drug performed activities of daily living, such as eating and dressing, significantly better than patients receiving placebo (an inactive, dummy 'medication').
The results also showed that people treated with Exelon could sustain their ability to function: they were either able to maintain their activities of daily living for a full 6 months, or experienced less of a decline in their symptoms than people taking the dummy 'medication'.
Of course, not all medications are suitable for everyone. Your doctor is the best person to offer advice about the suitability of any medication.
Last Reviewed: 30 May 2002
