Watchdog NICE 'more confident' of Alzheimer's drugs

Drugs to treat the early stages of Alzheimer's could soon be made more widely available, following new draft guidance issued by the NHS watchdog, NICE.

Four years ago, it had ruled that patients in England and Wales could not have the drugs until their condition reached a more advanced stage.

Chief executive of NICE, Sir Andrew Dillon, called the U-turn ''good news'' for sufferers.

He added it was now accepted the drugs are cost-effective.