A new Alzheimer's drug that might have the potential to stop the condition becoming advanced is to be put through 12 months of rigorous testing, it has emerged. The new Alzheimer's treatment, known as Dimebon, will be trialled by over 1,000 hand-picked patients from locations the world-over and the trials will be run by Glasgow Memory Clinic in Scotland, UK.

All patients involved in the trial are presently prescribed a drug called Aricept, which is regarded as the dominant global Alzheimer's treatment. During the trial (named the 'Concert Study' - 'An Alzheimer's Disease Investigational Trial'), participants will continue to take Aricept, but have Dimebon introduced as well. Combined therapy will therefore take place.

New Alzheimer's Drug

The hope is that the introduction of the new Alzheimer's drug will boost the ability of people with the condition to remember, to demonstrative cognitive behaviour (to think and be aware) and to self-care.

Glasgow Memory Clinic is a Scottish organisation that focuses on developing new treatments for conditions including Alzheimer's and Dementia, and it was established in 1999 by Doctor Fraser Inglis.

"Alzheimer's is a complex disease and while current medications may improve the symptoms for some patients for a time, often the disease continues to progress", Dr Inglis stated, adding: "Therefore, combination therapy may be the method to maximise clinical benefit."

"Concert is an important study because Dimebon is thought to work differently to current medications and this study will evaluate whether adding it to one of the most commonly used Alzheimer's medications [Aricept] will provide a more effective symptomatic treatment to patients, stabilising their condition and ultimately improving their quality of life."

Treating Alzheimer's

According to the Alzheimer's Society, there could be up to 417,000 UK residents living with Alzheimer's at the present moment. On this basis, there are likely over 400,000 people with restrictions on the success with which they can remember things and carry out daily tasks, and potentially the same number that could benefit from a new way of treating Alzheimer's

"A cure for Alzheimer's is still many years away, however treatments that provide lasting effects, more symptomatic benefits or slow disease progression would offer meaningful benefits for patients and their carers", Dr Inglis concluded.