The incidence of the major cause of
memory loss – Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is growing steadily as
the human population ages. Worldwide there is a total recorded
incidence of 15 million sufferers and because of increased
longevity in the ‘first world’ populations, the incidence of the
disorder is expected to grow significantly. In 2003, 4 million
people were affected and this number is expected to rise to 6
million by 2015 and thence to 16 million by 2050. (The Alzheimer
Association Health Sciences Institute 29/9/2003).
AD is caused by
the formation of protein-based plaques in the brain (caused by
the enzyme acetylcholinesterase – AChE). Treatments to slow down
the advance of AD exist and in the case of AChE-related drugs,
the advancement of the disease has been effectively slowed down
or even temporarily halted.
One of the most
effective treatments for the condition is the plant alkaloid
Galanthamine that acts as an AChE inhibitor. Inhibition of this
enzyme decreases the rate of plaque formation and clinical
trials of Galanthamine have shown that it can provide at least a
12 month delay in disease progression and potentially long-term
positive effects on patient behaviour and well-being.
A few years ago
the drug was registered for prescription only in the USA, UK,
Switzerland and Austria. Scotland alone of the UK countries had
the drug on its NHS list. Recently, other developed countries (e.g.
Japan and New Zealand) issued licences for the drug. Now,
numerous countries are prepared to allow the drug to be
dispensed once available and affordable.
Far fewer
patients are benefiting from the treatment than is desirable, as
Galanthamine is in very short supply and is extremely expensive
due to it having been obtained mainly from the wild. Statistics
on global production and availability are very difficult to
obtain as the companies that sell the drug are reluctant to
provide this information.
