New skin patch offers help for Alzheimer's victims

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has given approval for the first skin patch to treat Alzheimer's disease.

The patch contains the drug Exelon or Rivastigmine and is the same as that already available in capsule form.

The patch has the advantage of delivering a regular and continuous dose throughout the day and is distributed by Novartis.

As the drug enters the bloodstream directly some of the gastrointestinal side effects associated with the drug when it is swallowed are eliminated.

The Exelon patch is aimed at patients with mild to moderate cases of Alzheimer's and is used once a day allowing for a continuous 24-hour delivery.

It has also been approved by the FDA to treat patients with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease dementia.

Although the drug Rivastigmine does not represent a cure it works by slowing the breakdown of a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine, thought to be important for both learning and memory.

The Exelon patch will be available in stores in the U.S. shortly; there are thought to be 4.5 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer's a devastating disease which steals people's memory and changes how they both think and behave.

There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's and the disease is ultimately fatal.