Aricept Use Expanded to Severe Alzheimer's Dementia

(HealthDay News) -- Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat severe dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease.

With its approval a decade ago for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's dementia, Aricept becomes the first sanctioned drug to treat all forms of the memory-robbing disease, the FDA said in a statement.

The latest approval followed clinical testing in Sweden and Japan involving more than 500 people with severe Alzheimer's. Compared to those taking a placebo, participants on Aricept performed better on tests of cognitive functions including memory, language and orientation, the FDA said.

Aricept is manufactured by Eisai Inc. of Teaneck, N.J.

More information
You can learn more about Alzheimer's from the U.S. National Institute on Aging.