Finding New WaysTo Treat Alzheimer’s (NAPSA)—New findings may change the way doctors treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is a progressive condition characterized by memory loss, language deterioration and loss of mental functioning. Approximately four million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. One in 10 persons over 65 and nearly half of those over 85 have the condition. Many people with Alzheimer’s disease go untreated because of the mistaken belief that little can be done to help them. A new study, however, indicates that need not be the case. The study found that Reminyl (galantamine HBr), the newest available drug for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease, slowed the decline in cognitive function by approximately 18 months. The results were seen in patients who took the drug consistently over a three-year period. “Progressive cognitive decline is a central feature of the deterioration seen in Alzheimer’s disease,” says Murray Raskind, M_.D., director of the University of Washington Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the Depart- An approved drug has been shown to slow the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. ment of Veterans Affairs, Puget Sound Healthcare System. “If drug treatment can slow this downward spiral, the benefits to patients and their caregivers can be significant.” The most common side effects of Reminyl include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia and weight loss. They are usually mild and temporary. For more information, including full prescribing information, visit www.reminyl.com or call 1- 866-REMINYL(1-866-736-4695).
