Wider access to Alzheimer's drugs

CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed moves to widen access to drugs used to treat Alzheimer's disease.

The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said the drugs Exelon, Aricept and Reminyl would now be made available to patients with mild disease, as well as moderate patients.

Alzheimer Scotland said patients north of the border had fared better in accessing the drugs as doctors had been allowed to make their own judgments.

The charity also welcomed the decision to recommend Ebixa, below, for patients with moderate to severe dementia, for whom there had been fewer medical options.