Alzheimer’s experts are calling on the Scottish Government to back a new treatment which can prevent the disease progressing. They say Scotland leads the world on development and research into which affects 90,000 Scots and causes one in 10 deaths. New drug has been passed by UK drugs watchdogs as a “safe and effective treatment”.
But it is not yet available to the NHS because England’s drug watchdog NICE said it was too expensive. With rates of Alzheimer’s set to double by 2040, dementia expert Professor Craig Ritchie hopes the drug will be approved by NICE’s equivalent, . He said: “Lecanemab is an innovative drug, one of a new generation.
It very effectively clears amyloid protein from the brain. If someone is treated before symptoms emerge, they may never lead to clinical change. “These drugs are like, in many ways, chemotherapy.
They have effectiveness, but they also need to be used very carefully as they do not suit everybody. There can be side effects which have to be carefully monitored. But, once we open the door to this, further treatment and new drugs coming along can only get better.
” The professor quit the NHS almost two years ago in frustration at waiting times for patients to see him. Now he is pushing for NHS patients to be able to access treatment before symptoms develop in the hope that by removing damaging proteins developing in the brains of potential Alzheimer’s victim, the illness is tackled before onset. He said: “I believe around 1.