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Hope for miracle Alzheimer's drug

Published: Friday, 11 April 2008, 4:38PM

Alzheimer's experts have cautiously welcomed a revolutionary American treatment which is being used to help patients.

Around 50 people at a private clinic in California are seemingly benefitting from the anti-arthritic drug Etancercept.

The drug is injected into the neck of the patient, who is then tilted to encourage blood flow into the brain.

Doctors have reported a response rate of about 90 per cent, often within minutes.

A video has emerged, which was filmed and edited by the private clinic where the treatment is being carried out.

It shows the wife and son of a patient describing how when he was given the drug it made the 82-year-old sufferer recognise his wife for the first time in years.

Dr Suzanne Sorensen, from the Alzheimer's Society, told ITV News: "It looks very exciting seeing the videos of people improving dramatically, immediately after treatment.

"It gives us hope that there is something new out there worth trying. At the same time we get stories about solutions to Alzheimer's quite regualrly, so there is some cynicism."

She continued: "It is worth bearing in mind that this drug has not been tested in a controlled trial."

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