Is Drug Useless for Mild Dementia?

There are very few proven treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. One popular drug, Namenda, is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s dementia. Doctors often prescribe it to people with mild symptoms of the disease in the hope that they will maintain their ability to function. A new analysis of three studies shows that Namenda is no better than an inactive placebo pill for maintaining cognitive function and activities of daily living among people with mild Alzheimer’s. The researchers are not impressed with its benefit for people with moderate Alzheimer’s disease either. They call for better research demonstrating efficacy before doctors prescribe it for people with mild Alzheimer’s disease.
[Archives of Neurology, online, April 11, 2011]