Alzheimer's drugs 'to be given to those with mild symptoms'

Individuals with mild Alzheimer's symptoms will now be given medication through the NHS following a decision to extend their use, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has stated.

Three Alzheimer's drugs previously reserved for those with moderate to severe symptoms will be available to those with mild symptoms through the NHS from March.

This comes after new findings that the drugs work enough in patients with mild symptoms to justify the cost of it.

Sir Andrew Dillon, chief executive of Nice, said that more is now known about the costs of living with and treating the disease as it progresses.

"Since 2007 clinical trials have continued to show the positive effects of these drugs and, in the case of meantime, have reduced the uncertainty about its clinical effectiveness," he added.

This follows research from the Pitt School of Medicine that reported findings that indicate that nitric oxide could hold the key in a new treatment for dementia.

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