International Study Shows That "Non-Pharmacological Therapies" are Just as Effective as Drugs for Alzheimer's Disease. They Now Have to be Made Widely Available

LONDON, September 10, 2010 - A worldwide network of 22 scientists (including 6 from the UK) has today
published a large study that for the first time provides clear evidence on
the effectiveness of Non-pharmacological Therapies in Alzheimer's disease.
The study was published in 'Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders'.

They are now calling on governments to make these useful treatments
readily available.

A cure for Alzheimer's is not yet in sight, and available drugs have
worthwhile but limited benefits. However, scientifically developed and
rigorously tested Non-pharmacological Therapies can significantly improve the
lives of people with dementia and their caregivers.

The strongest evidence is for individualised intervention packages for
family caregivers which can improve the well-being of caregivers and help
delay admissions to care homes. In addition, approaches such as cognitive
stimulation and physical exercise can improve cognitive function, mood and
behaviour symptoms of people with dementia.

Professor Clive Ballard, Director of Research at the Alzheimer's Society,
commented: "This work shows the difference that can be made to the lives of
people with dementia and their carers using therapies that can be readily
adapted to individual needs; the Alzheimer's Society calls for these
therapies to be made more widely available, so many more can benefit."

36 million people around the world suffer from Alzheimer's. Looking for
alternative approaches to drugs, 22 top international scientists embarked on
a 5-year project to determine exactly which Non-pharmacological Therapies
could significantly improve the lives of patients and caregivers. They
screened 1.313 scientific studies on the topic and classified the entire
field according to the type of intervention employed (e.g. cognitive
stimulation, interventions with music, intervention packages for the
caregiver etc).

This study has now definitively confirmed what previous, less exhaustive,
research has pointed out: by applying rigorous criteria, one
Non-pharmacological Therapy had the highest possible level of supporting
evidence (grade A): this approach consisted of an individualised package,
combining several approaches based on a comprehensive assessment of the
caregiver, the patient, the family and the social environment. Components
within this intervention may include training and education, use of resources
(day care, support groups, respite services, etc.) and organizing additional
family support. The evidence was strong that this inexpensive, flexible
intervention improves psychological well-being of the caregiver, and prevents
or delays costly care home placement. No medication can, to date, show such
an outstanding cost/benefit ratio.

There was also strong evidence that other therapies such as cognitive
stimulation, physical exercise (and combinations including other components)
could improve cognition, daily living skills, improve mood and reduce
behaviour problems (which can severely distress caregivers). These
interventions are relatively easy to implement in community settings, have a
great potential to improve well-being and are generally enjoyed by the
participants. Unlike drugs they have the added advantage of a virtual absence
of side effects. These benefits appear independent of the patient taking any
of the currently available anti-Alzheimer's drugs. Non-pharmacological
Therapies may be even more effective when combined with these drugs.

These therapies are often effective, and are relatively cheap to develop
and research. In the UK they are already recognised as being best practice in
official guidelines, such as those published by NICE.

Governments need to develop infrastructures such as partnerships between
health and social care and the voluntary sector to enable effective
Non-pharmacological Therapies to be made widely available for people with
dementia and their caregivers.

Attachments to the press release available at www.NPTherapies.org

    - Real life story of "Multi-component Intervention for Caregivers" (New
      York University)

    - Real life story of "Multi-component Intervention for Patients" (Maria
      Wolff Centers Madrid)

    - Resumes of the 22 involved researchers

    - Science behind the scenes: How 22 world leading scientists worked for 5
      years on the largest Non Pharmacological Therapies Project ever
      undertaken

    - Published article
      content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?doi=316119

Press release issued on behalf of the International Non Pharmacological Therapies Project in cooperation with Alzheimer's Disease International. www.alz.co.uk/adi/award/ . Contact details of spokespersons: Professor Bob Woods, Bangor University, b.woods at bangor.ac.uk T +44(0)1248-382463 M +44(0)775-1027300. Marc Wortmann, Alzheimer's Disease International, m.wortmann at alz.co.uk, T +44-20-7981-0880, M +31-653-131-811.