Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is a terrible thief. Over time it robs people of their ability to remember, learn, and reason, cutting them off from friends and family and eventually even their own sense of self. The companies that sell Alzheimer’s drugs peddle hope to people looking for a way to ease the pain and frustration. But a hard look through the research paints a far more disappointing picture.

Marketing for the Exelon Patch reassures people that the active ingredient “has been studied for over a decade in clinical trials” and that it has “been shown to benefit cognition, which includes things like memory, reasoning, understanding, and communication, as well as improve overall function.” Marketing for Aricept characterizes giving the drug to a loved one as an act of responsibility and caring. “I want to give to the man who gave me so much love,” says a woman as she kisses the cheek of an older man.