Frank,

I am not a doctor or a scientist. I think the experience with Aricept varies by individual.

My mother was diagnosed four years ago and she has been taking Aricept for 4 years. For us, I believe the drug has been very effective. Aricept helps slow the rate of decline but it is not the cure. In the case of my mother she has been declining slowly. Nevertheless, she is declining and moving into the medium stage.

I am confident in saying that in our case the drug has helped over several years.

If you want to read more about the things I have been doing with my mom you can visit  I am an Alzheimer's CareGiver

I think my grandmother had alzeimers atleast a year before she was diagnosed.  She started on the Aricept in October of last year and I can't tell that it does her anygood.  When she was diagnosed in October by that Fast Test she tested Mild.  I found that Test on the internet somewhere and her symptoms are more along the line of moderate now and have been moderate since June.  If she's progressing that quickly I can't see how it's helping at all...unless she would have progressed even quicker without it.

Usually there is a pair of drugs for Alzheimer's for maximum effect. e.g., aricept and namenda/namenda and exelon. My FIL has moderate/severe Alzheimer's and taking namenda and exelon made him alert more last year but for this year, we are not sure if it is working but it may help delaying the behavior problems for 6 - 18 months. It does not stop or delay the progression of Alzheimer's. My FIL cannot take aricept as it made him stop eating. I think it depends on the person. In the end, the drugs don't work because they  would be too sick in the end stage.

take care,

Nina