Alzheimer's drugs do not delay onset

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the term used to describe the condition where people have memory problems that are more severe than those normally seen in others of their age but who otherwise have no symptoms of dementia. It is believed that people with MCI are at high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and sometimes drugs called cholesterinase inhibitors - donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine - are given to people with MCI in an attempt to stop them developing full-blown Alzheimer's. However, an Italian review of studies into the effects of cholesterinase inhibitors has found that they do not seem to delay the onset of dementia.

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http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371/journal.pmed.0040338