Older Class of Drugs May Show Promise for Some Alzheimer’s Signs

Amid the many drug failures for Alzheimer’s disease, researchers found that one older class of medicines might offer some hope, although just how much is still unclear.

The treatments, part of a drug family that includes the antidepressant Cymbalta, helped patients with apathy in a so-called meta analysis -- an overview of 10 clinical trials that can guide scientists in deciding whether it’s worth pursuing further research. There was also a small impact on cognition, which scientists who reviewed the study said was probably not clinically relevant.

Multiple failures in the field have left Alzheimer’s patients and their families ...