Thursday, November 11, 2004

MS & Memory

Patti has been taking Aricept (donepezil) for almost two years

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Alzheimer's Drug Helps MS Patients

Memory improves for some patients, study finds

By Janice Billingsley, HealthDay Reporter  

     MONDAY, Nov. 8 (HealthDayNews) -- Memory problems that prevent multiple sclerosis sufferers from doing their jobs are extremely troublesome and disheartening, say doctors, but a drug geared for Alzheimer's patients may offer some help.

     Doctors at Stony Brook University Hospital in New York:State found patients who took donepezil for six months improved their scores on memory tests by 14 percent, compared to those who took a placebo. Further, 66 percent of the patients on donepezil felt their memory had improved, double the number who reported improvement while taking a placebo. …

     The results appear in the Nov. 9 issue of Neurology. …

     "Even though donepezil was designed for Alzheimer's, its efficacy does not have to be limited to that disease. It is used in vascular dementia," he said.

     "But," he added, "people with MS have been bothered for a long time by memory loss -- it is one of the very troubling symptoms of MS -- and this is the first demonstration that we can help with this symptom."…

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At first glance this would seem most encouraging for those with either mild or early MS or mild cognitive difficulties.

 

In Patti’s case her cognitive problems and progression were already severe. However after one year at maximum dosage, in her specific case, there was MRI evidence of slower progression in associated brain tissue deterioration.

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