Delusions, hallucinations and aggression are symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) that are as traumatic as memory loss for the sufferers. To make matters worse, a US study finds that many antipsychotics commonly prescribed to alleviate these symptoms provide little benefit.

Although the drugs are not approved for AD in the US, many doctors prescribe them on the basis of their therapeutic effects in schizophrenia. However, Lon Schneider of the University of Southern California, the lead author of the study, says that“Most patients are not benefiting” (Washington Post, 12 October 2006) and that “...their tendency to cause intolerable side effects ... offsets their benefits” (Reuters, 11 October 2006). The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, investigated three second-generation antipsychotics, finding no significant differences in the improvement of symptoms in comparison to a placebo.

Focusing on the need for better medications, Thomas Insel, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health, which funded the research, says that “These drugs are clearly not the answer” (New York Times, 12 October 2006). They might have some use, but treatment periods should be limited and should stop if side effects emerge, according to Jason Karlawish of the University of Pennsylvania (Washington Post, 12 October 2006). Bruce Kinon, a psychiatrist at Eli Lilly, which manufactures one of the drugs, agrees that “...treatment needs to be done with a lot of forethought and constant reevaluation” (New York Times, 12 October 2006). Others claim that addressing triggers of aggression could be more effective; Gary Kennedy of the Montefiore Medical Center argues that “Working on these kinds of behavioural factors should always be the first line of treatment” (New York Times, 12 October 2006).