I used to date a gal who researched in this field, and it was her opinion that virtually anything short of a full cure was a disaster. Drugs like Aricept do very little but extend the convalescence of the ill, meaning, in the end, that people just need more care for a longer time. The patients suffer longer in the state where they have enough cognizance to know they are ill and dying. The families that try to support the ill person (and taking care of someone with alzheimers has been likened to trying to care for a 200 pound toddler) will linger longer, and in the end, the outcome will be the same.

In essence, the most cruel aspect of Alzheimers is that it is a cruel incurable slow death. Drugs that slow the pace of Alzheimers just compound that.

Thats why:
"81 percent reduction in mental decline after 50 weeks"

makes me really concerned. This is really saying that there is still measurable mental decline in those 50 weeks

In almost all cases of a condition called "Mild Cognitive Impairment", when that impairment is not caused by brain injury and is related to age, Alzheimers follows within a year or a few years. If we can find a drug that can improve MCI and indefinitely dely the onset of Alzheimers, thats what we really need.

Perhaps this drug will work? But if its another Aricept, then the only effect will be to extend misery and make a lot of rich people filthy rich.

Yeti