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Daffodil drug may fight dementia
20/06/2001 13:14 - (SA)
London - A drug made from daffodils has been found effective in treating various kinds of dementia including Alzheimer's disease which affects millions of elderly people around the world.
A study into the effects of the drug galantamine found benefits in its use as a treatment for dementia triggered by strokes and artery disease.
Dementia is a decline in memory and intellectual abilities caused
by brain shrinkage and Alzheimer's disease is the most common type.
Dementia is also often caused by vascular problems involving the
blood supply to the brain and vascular dementia, which affects
between six and 12 people per 1 000 aged over 70 across the world, can be triggered by strokes, high blood pressure or diabetes. It may occur together with Alzheimer's.
The new findings show that galantamine, sold under the brand name
Reminyl, improves the memory, orientation and language skills of
patients with vascular and "mixed dementia".
Reminyl, which is not yet approved for treating vascular dementia, helped sufferers perform normal activities such as bathing, dressing and doing housework.
Dr Roger Bullock, of the Kingshill Research Centre in Swindon, west of London, who led one of 10 patient trial groups in Europe and Canada, said: "This study has the potential to make a real impact on the way dementia is treated throughout the world."
"If the findings of this study are replicated through further
research, physicians will no longer need to hesitate before
treating dementia in individuals in whom vascular damage has
occurred." Reminyl appears to be effective in treating dementia,
whether or not cerebrovascular disease is present.
A total of 592 patients diagnosed with vascular or mixed dementia
were enrolled into the study and either given Reminyl or a dummy
placebo. Patients' cognitive abilities were tested using recognised methods of measuring memory, orientation, reasoning and language. - Sapa-DPA
- SAPA
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