Scientists ring alarm bells about Alzheimer's

PHILADELPHIA - Regulators, researchers and drug companies must work quickly to develop faster and cheaper trials for treatments to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease, scientists say.

Promising medications are in the works, but human trials are time-consuming and costly, and an avalanche of Alzheimer's cases is expected as the baby boom generation ages, they say.

The disease, which helped kill former US President Ronald Reagan last month, affects some 4.5 million Americans and touches one in 10 US families.

The number of cases in the US has doubled since 1980 and is expected to nearly quadruple to 16 million by 2050.

One current trial focusing on the ginkgo biloba leaf involves more than 3000 participants aged 75 and older for at least six years, at a cost of more than US$24 million ($36.6 million).

Another is looking at whether two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAids, can help prevent Alzheimer's in healthy people. It has so far enrolled about 2500 of an intended 4000 participants at a cost of some US$25 million.

The use of NSAids had potential, said Dr John Breitner of the University of Washington, who leads a trial of the drugs naproxen and Pfizer's Celebrex, known generically as celecoxib.

"The preliminary data that NSAids can prevent Alzheimer's is very encouraging, but the treatments have known side-effects and there are real difficulties with administration of these ... to seniors in trials over several years," Breitner said.

- NZPA