Why isn’t there a cure for Alzheimer’s disease? And could David Cameron’s desire to encourage clinical trials with medical research companies in NHS hospitals provide a much needed opportunity to provide this desperately needed cure?
Anyone who has experienced Alzheimer’s might have seen the benefits that Aricept can deliver in delaying the onset of this vicious and cruel disease. But, tragically, there is still no cure.
Congratulations to The Times for supporting the Alzheimer’s Society as one of its chosen charities for its annual Christmas appeal. Thanks to the Society’s campaigning, Aricept became widely available last year to all patients with mild or moderate symptoms because they were previously not considered cost-effective.
According to Dr Anne Corbett of the Alzheimer’s Society research team, there are only three large-scale Alzheimer’s drug trials currently taking pace in the world. As a general rule of thumb, she says only one in ten drugs going into clinical trials get licensed, and the real stumbling block is lack of investment. How can this appalling situation be allowed to continue?
It is estimated that there are currently 750,000 people in Britain with some form of dementia, a figure predicted to sore to one million by 2021. How can it not be cost effective to find a cure compared to the cost on social care and nursing, the huge burden on our economy, as well as the personal trauma and devastation it causes to patients and their families?
Let’s welcome the huge benefits and opportunities for improved healthcare that these innovative plans could deliver.
The reason there is no cure for Alzheimer’s is that the elderly are way down the list of priorities for any government. They all prefer to spend monery on killing people. I hope thisd initiative brings forth some good results but I, too, would be concerned about confidentiality. Well done, The Times, as you say, Ellee.
“Use your health, even to the point of wearing it out. That is what it is for. Spend all you have before you die; do not outlive yourself.”
George Bernard Shaw.
We’ve got a bit too good at surviving. It’s causing us huge economic problems.
I appreciate the comments. I work on the elderly down here in St George UT. We have a big retirement community. I am in health-care and I wish there were more treatment options for Alzheimer’s.
Part of me agrees with Welschcake’s comment. I’m not cynical by nature, but a conspiracy theorist might say the govt doesn’t want the elderly to live longer. The longer they live, the more SS and Medicare they pay out. And with ALZ, those folks are voting to keep politicians in office. What incentive is there to help those suffering?