Farlow, Martin R., Alva, Gus, Meng, Xiangyi, Olin, Jason T.

Objective: To investigate the tolerability and efficacy of the rivastigmine transdermal patch in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease receiving concomitant memantine. Research design and methods: Post hoc analysis of a 25-week, randomized, prospective, open-label, parallel-group study. Patients receiving donepezil were switched to rivastigmine patches (4.6 mg/24 h) immediately or following a 7-day withdrawal for 4 […]

Geldmacher, David S., Fritsch, Thomas, McClendon, McKee J., Landreth, Gary

Objectives: To evaluate the safety of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist pioglitazone in nondiabetic patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and to explore treatment effect sizes on clinical outcomes.; Design: Double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial of 18-month duration.; Setting: Two academic medical center outpatient clinics.; Patients: Nondiabetic patients meeting research criteria for probable AD were […]

Utumi, Yushi, Iseki, Eizo, Murayama, Norio, Nozawa, Motohiro, Kumagai, Ryo, Matsubara, Youichiro, Ichimiya, Yosuke, Arai, Heii

Background: Functional gastrointestinal symptoms are frequently found in elderly dementia patients. In such a case, we attempt treatment by the administration of antidepressants or second-generation antipsychotics. However, these medications have a risk of side-effects. In the present study, we carried out oral administration of Rikkunshi-to to elderly dementia patients with appetite loss, and examined its […]

Farlow, Martin R., Salloway, Stephen, Tariot, Pierre N., Yardley, Jane, Moline, Margaret L., Wang, Qin, Brand-Schieber, Elimor, Zou, Heng, Hsu, Timothy, Satlin, Andrew

Background: Currently approved Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatments have been reported to provide symptomatic benefit, without proven impact on clinical progression. We hypothesized that the loss of initial therapeutic benefit over time may be mitigated by higher doses of a cholinesterase inhibitor.; Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of […]

Dolder, Christian, McKinsey, Jonathan

Adequate treatment of behavioral disturbances in Alzheimer’s disease is both important and difficult. This report describes a case series that examined the effectiveness and safety of low-dose divalproex in the treatment of agitated patients with Alzheimer’s disease who were admitted to an inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit over a 1-year period. All patients had agitation due […]

Wang, Lucy Y., Shofer, Jane B., Rohde, Kirsten, Hart, Kim L., Hoff, David J., McFall, Yun H., Raskind, Murray A., Peskind, Elaine R.

Objectives: Agitation/aggression in Alzheimer disease (AD) is a major cause of patient distress, caregiver burden, and institutionalization. Enhanced behavioral responsiveness to central nervous system norepinephrine (NE) release may contribute to the pathophysiology of agitation/aggression in AD. Prazosin, a nonsedating generic medication used for hypertension and benign prostatic hypertrophy, antagonizes NE effects at brain postsynaptic alpha-1 […]

Brusa, Livia, Orlacchio, Antonio, Moschella, Vincenzo, Iani, Cesare, Bernardi, Giorgio, Mercuri, Nicola Biagio

Aripiprazole (AP), a dopamine (DA) D(2) receptor partial agonist, has recently been used to reduce schizophrenic symptoms, while tetrabenazine (TBZ), a DA depletor, has been used to treat hyperkinesias in Huntington’s disease (HD). The aim of this study is to define the role of AP on chorea, motor performance, and functional disability, and to compare […]

Wilkinson, David, Róman, Gustavo, Salloway, Stephen, Hecker, Jane, Boundy, Karyn, Kumar, Dinesh, Posner, Holly, Schindler, Rachel

Objective: To determine the long-term tolerability and efficacy of donepezil in patients with vascular dementia (VaD).; Methods: International, multicentre, open-label, 30-week extension study of two 24-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Participants were ambulatory adults (59% female; mean age, 74.7 +/- 0.3) with a diagnosis of possible or probable VaD and without a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s […]

Squitieri, Ferdinando, Landwehrmeyer, Bernhard, Reilmann, Ralf, Rosser, Anne, de Yebenes, Justo Garcia, Prang, Allan, Ivkovic, Jelena, Bright, Jeremy, Rembratt, Åsa

Objective: To assess the 1-year safety profile of the dopaminergic stabilizer pridopidine in patients with Huntington disease. Methods: Patients received pridopidine 45 mg/day for 4 weeks then pridopidine 90 mg/day for 22 weeks in this 6-month open-label extension (OLE) of the 6-month MermaiHD randomized controlled trial (RCT). Any adverse events (AEs) were recorded. Patients were […]