Bad News on Alzheimer's Twice Over

Talk about a one-two punch. I find out this morning that an old friend has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and then read that a new report concludes that the drugs most commonly used to treat this awful affliction are no more effective than placebos for most patients and put them at risk of serious side effects.

The report, based on a large government comparison of the drugs’ effectiveness, challenges current practice so sharply that it could quickly alter prescribing habits, some experts said. About 4.5 million Americans suffer from the progressive dementia of Alzheimer’s disease, and most patients with the advanced disease exhibit agitation or delusions at some point.

More here.