Dr. Rachelle S. Doody has written over 100 publications, most of which deal with the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. She has received many grants supporting research on Alzheimer's disease. She participates in national and international studies and in review and advisory boards. Currently, Dr. Doody is the Effie Marie Cain Professor in Alzheimer's Disease Research at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. A leading authority, Dr. Doody had this to say about the treatment of Alzheimer's disease:

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"It is important to understand what to expect from the currently available Alzheimer's disease therapies. First, we do not yet have therapies that restore patients to normal functioning or that completely stop the Alzheimer's disease progress permanently. The therapies that we have now and those expected to be approved in the next few years, can improve symptoms to a small degree or stabilize symptoms. For most patients, present medications stabilize symptoms. That is, they slow the rate of symptom worsening and prevent new deterioration for a period of time, rather than inducing noticeable improvements."

"For some patients, this stabilizing and slowing effect lasts for many years. For others, it lasts for a year or two. Occasionally, the drugs seem to have no effect, or an effect so small that the patient worsens rapidly despite therapy. Even those patients would probably be worse without treatment. Since the benefit of the treatment must be judged by its effect on Alzheimer's disease over time, usually a six-month trial is necessary to determine the degree of benefit. Many patients will stay on therapy, with benefit, for their lifetimes."