Drug Reduces Delusions in People With Dementia

A new study found a drug for reducing delusions in individuals with Parkinson's disease has the same effect for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, reports WebMD . Pimavanserin was cleared in the United States for Parkinson's-related psychosis in 2016, and the drug inhibits a brain chemical that triggers delusions. The medication eases hallucinations that can induce anxiety, aggression, and physical and verbal abuse. If U.S. regulators approve it, pimavanserin would the first treatment specifically for dementia-related psychosis, and the first new Alzheimer's medicine in nearly 20 years. Research suggests as much as 30 percent of the 8 million Americans with dementia go on to develop psychosis. "This would be a very important advance," said Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation Chief Science Officer Howard Fillit.