Hay fever drug 'could treat Alzheimer's'
22 July 2008
 US research has found that a hay fever drug could help Alzheimer's patients. Scientists from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, studied 183 patients over six months.Health Care Republic reports that half the participants received 20mg of the hay fever antihistamine Dimebon three times a day, while the rest were given a placebo for the period.The researchers found that patients taking Dimebon showed improvements relating to memory, behaviour and ability.Susan Sorensen, head of research for the Alzheimer's Society, said that this was only a "modest sized study" but added that it implies the drug "could be more effective" than current treatments."More substantial research is now needed, which studies more people over a longer period of time, to investigate the true value of this drug and whether it treats Alzheimer's disease itself or just the symptoms," she added.Scientists from the University of Brighton recently revealed that they are hoping to find a treatment for Alzheimer's by studying the habits of snails, the Independent reported.  © Adfero Ltd
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