Do new Alzheimer’s drugs signal the end of the condition?

Judging by some recent newspaper headlines, the prospects of an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease have never been better. In the past couple of years, positive trial results have been announced for three drugs that clear a protein called amyloid – which is thought to play a crucial role in this form of dementia – from the brain.

But not everyone is convinced. Sceptics point out that these treatments won’t have much impact on symptoms. They can also cause dangerous …