(Source: Reuters) - Alzheimer's patients given a popular rheumatoid arthritis drug showed seemingly dramatic improvements in a small study, but some doctors worry that the early findings will raise premature hopes in patients and their families.
The study involved 12 patients who had greatly improved language recall shortly after treatment with Enbrel, or etanercept, an anti-inflammatory drug.
"We often see verbal effects within a few minutes of the first dose," said Dr. Edward Tobinick, who charges between $10,000 and $40,000 per patient for the treatments.
In January, Tobinick's report on a single patient, and release of a striking video drew the attention of the Alzheimer's Association, which released a statement expressing concern.
"People with Alzheimer's and their families may place undue value on this new finding based on the dramatic language used in its description and the apparent immediate effect," the group said.
A video showing one woman's response to the drug in a sister study can be found at www.nrimed.com.
Go to full story: reuters.com
