Anti-dementia drug

'delays need for care home'

New research has shown that giving people with Alzheimer's disease an anti-dementia drug can stave off the move into a nursing home for 18 months.

Prescribing the drug donepezil (Aricept) more widely could save families and the NHS large amounts of money with nursing care now costing up to £35,000 a year.

According to the Journal of the American Geriatric Society a study of 671 elderly American people over more than four years found that taking Aricept delayed permanent placement in a nursing home by 17.5 months and a first, temporary placement by 21 months.

Dr David Geldmacher, from the University Memory and Ageing Centre in Cleveland, Ohio, who led the study, said yesterday: "The use of donepezil may help Alzheimer's patients live longer in community settings with consequent personal, social and economic benefits."

In Britain the Alzheimers' Research Trust says that the cost of long-term care for people with dementia will increase from £4.6 billion to £11 billion in 30 years.

The Alzheimer's Society says that dementia care can cost families up to £500 a week and has criticised the patchy prescribing of the drug in England and Wales despite an official recommendation for its use.

In July the society said that no new patients in Salford, near Manchester, had been prescribed the drug since January because there were not enough trained staff to administer its use.

Last week the magazine Hospital Doctor reported the case of a 73-year-old man from Ben Rhydding, west Yorkshire, who had paid more than £3,000 to buy Aricept for his wife on a private prescription.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice), which recommends drugs for use by the NHS, has said that Aricept should be available nationally under the care of a consultant.

Julia Cream, head of public affairs at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "In spite of approval by Nice, people with dementia in many areas of the country can't access anti-dementia drugs."

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