Researchers claim to have found a drug that relieves some of the worst symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, without any side effects.
A team from the University of Exeter Medical School tested Pimavanserin, an antipsychotic, in a placebo-controlled trial of 180 patients with Alzheimer's disease psychosis. Pimavanserin works by blocking a specific nerve receptor in the brain and does not produce the side effects associated with similar drugs, which sedate patients and can increase the speed of deterioration in brain function.
Professor Clive Ballard, who led the research, told Sky News: "Psychosis is a particularly terrifying symptom of Alzheimer's disease.
"People may experience paranoia, or see, hear or smell things that are not there. It's distressing both for those experiencing the delusions and for their carers.
"It's particularly encouraging that most benefit was seen in those with the most severe psychotic symptom, as this group is most likely to be prescribed antipsychotics.
"We are talking about vulnerable elderly, frail people who are suffering terrifying symptoms, being sedated with current antipsychotics even though its well known that they cause terrible health issues and even death in people with dementia and have very little benefit.”
