华生关怀理论对老年痴呆症患者的临床干预效果

目的:探索华生关怀理论在老年痴呆症患者临床护理中的应用效果,为临床护理提供参考。方法:选择2012年3月至2014年3月我院收治的老年痴呆患者200例,随机分为治疗组和对照组。对照组采用常规护理措施,治疗组采用华生关怀理论进行干预。分别于干预前后采用简易智能量表(MMSE)、蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MOCA)、AD评定量表认知部分(ADAS-Cog)、日常生活活动量表(ADL)、中医症状积分量表对两组患者进行测评。结果:与干预前比较,两组患者干预后的MMSE和MOCA评分显著升高,ADAS-Cog、ADL和中医症状积分明显降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组比较,治疗组患者变化更明显(P0.01)。两组患者干预前后的血尿常规、肝肾功能及心电图等指标无显著差异(P0.05)。结论:利用华生关怀理论护理老年痴呆症患者,不仅能改善患者的病情,缓解心理压力,而且有利于减轻家庭和社会负担。     

The effect of stimulation therapy and donepezil on cognitive function in Alzheimer¿s disease. A community based RCT with a two-by-two factorial design

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Progressive neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) induces cognitive deterioration, and there is controversy regarding the optimal treatment strategy in early AD. Stimulation therapy, including physical exercise and cholinesterase inhibitors are both reported to postpone cognitive deterioration in separate studies. We aimed to study the effect of stimulation therapy and the additional effect of donepezil on cognitive function in early AD. METHOD: DESIGN: A two-by-two factorial trial comprising stimulation therapy for one year compared to standard care to which a randomized double-blinded placebo controlled trial with donepezil was added. SETTING: Nine rural municipalities in Northern Norway. PARTICIPANTS: 187 participants [greater than or equal to]65 years with a recent diagnosis of mild or moderate AD were included in the study of which 146 completed a one-year follow-up. INTERVENTIONS: In five municipalities the participants received stimulation therapy whereas participants in four received standard care. All participants were randomised double-blinded to donepezil or placebo and tested with three different cognitive tests four times during the one-year study period. MAIN OUTCOME: Changes in MMSE sum score. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Changes in ADAS-Cog and Clock Drawing Test. RESULTS: MMSE scores remained unchanged amongst AD participants receiving stimulation therapy and those receiving standard care. The results were consistent for ADAS-Cog and Clock Drawing Test. No time trend differences were found during one-year follow-up between groups receiving stimulation therapy versus standard care or between donepezil versus placebo. CONCLUSION: In rural AD patients non-pharmacological and pharmacological therapy did not improve outcome compared with standard care but all groups retained cognitive function during one year follow-up. Other studies are needed to confirm these results. ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT00443014). EudraCT database (no 2004-002613-37). KEYWORDS: Alzheimer's disease. Symptomatic treatment. Postponement of cognitive deterioration.     

Changes in cognitive domains during three years in patients with Alzheimer's disease treated with donepezil

Background  

The objective was to identify separate cognitive domains in the standard assessment tools (MMSE, ADAS-Cog) and analyze the process of decline within domains during three years in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with donepezil treatment.     

Short term response is predictive of long term response to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in Alzheimer’s disease: A starting point to explore Bayesian approximation in clinical practice

This study was aimed at identifying, in 203 patients with Alzheimer''s disease followed during long-term treatment with Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs), the predictive factors of the clinical response among cognition (MMSE), functioning (BADL and IADL) measures and age and gender at the baseline (T0). The ANCOVA test showed a significant association between MMSE scores at time T0 and T3, and the variation T9 to T0, T15 to T0 and T21 to T0 of the MMSE scores, using also gender, age and drug as covariates. The significance was higher for the patients affected by mild dementia. Regarding functional activities, a significant relationship was detected, by the ANCOVA test, only between the scores at T3 and the variation T15 to T0 for BADL, and the variation T9 to T0, T15 to T0 for IADL, respectively. Our results confirm, in a real world setting, that ChEIs provide long-term cognitive benefit, which is correlated to, and predictable by, the short-term response (within the third month) as well as the cognitive status (evaluated by means of the MMSE) at the beginning of the treatment. These factors should be the basis of any cost/effectiveness algorithm in health economic decision models.     

重酒石酸卡巴拉汀与盐酸多奈哌齐对阿尔兹海默症患者认知功能及血清 缓激肽水平的影响

目的:探讨重酒石酸卡巴拉汀联合盐酸多奈哌齐对阿尔兹海默症患者认知功能及血清缓激肽水平的影响。方法:收集我院就诊或住院治疗的96例阿尔兹海默症患者,随机分为实验组和对照组,每组48例。对照组患者给予盐酸多奈哌齐片治疗,实验组患者在对照组基础上给予重酒石酸卡巴拉汀胶囊治疗。观察并比较两组患者治疗前后简易智能状态量表(MMSE)评分、痴呆量表(Blessed-Roth)评分、阿尔兹海默症评定量表(ADAS-Cog)评分以及血清缓激肽(BK)水平的变化情况。结果:与治疗前相比,两组患者治疗后MMSE评分升高(P0.05),Blessed-Roth评分以及ADAS-Cog评分下降(P0.05),血清BK水平下降(P0.05);与对照组相比,实验组患者的MMSE评分较高(P0.05),Blessed-Roth评分,ADAS-Cog评分以及血清BK水平较低(P0.05);结论:重酒石酸卡巴拉汀联合盐酸多奈哌齐能够更有效改善阿尔兹海默症患者的认知功能,可与其降低血清BK水平有关。     

血清尿酸、白介素6、P-tau181与阿尔茨海默病患者认知功能、日常生活能力和预后的关系分析

摘要 目的：探讨血清尿酸（UA）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、磷酸化Tau181（P-tau181）与阿尔茨海默病（AD）患者认知功能、日常生活能力和预后的关系。方法：选择2018年5月至2021年1月上海交通大学医学院附属第九人民医院与上海交通大学医学院附属第九人民医院黄浦分院收治的98例AD患者（AD组）和71例门诊体检的健康志愿者（对照组）,检测血清UA、IL-6、P-tau181水平,使用简易智力状态检查量表（MMSE）、蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）评估患者认知功能,Barthel指数（BI）评估患者日常生活能力。所有患者出院后随访1年,统计随访期间不良预后发生情况。Pearson相关性分析UA、IL-6、P-tau181与MMSE、MoCA、BI的相关性,多因素Logistic回归分析AD患者预后不良的危险因素。结果：AD组血清UA水平和MMSE、MoCA评分、BI低于对照组（P＜0.05）,IL-6、P-tau181水平高于对照组（P＜0.05）。AD患者血清UA水平与MMSE、MoCA评分、BI呈正相关（P＜0.05）,IL-6、P-tau181水平与MMSE、MoCA评分、BI呈负相关（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示：长期卧床、AD痴呆阶段、高水平IL-6、高水平P-tau181是AD患者预后不良的危险因素（P＜0.05）,高水平UA是保护因素（P＜0.05）。结论：AD患者血清UA水平降低,IL-6、P-tau181水平升高,且与认知功能障碍、日常生活能力降低以及预后不良有关,检测血清UA、IL-6、P-tau181可辅助评估AD病情和预后。     

Identification and comparative analysis of novel alternatively spliced transcripts of RhoGEF domain encoding gene in C. elegans and C. briggsae

This study was aimed at identifying, in 203 patients with Alzheimer's disease followed during long-term treatment with Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs), the predictive factors of the clinical response among cognition (MMSE), functioning (BADL and IADL) measures and age and gender at the baseline (T0). The ANCOVA test showed a significant association between MMSE scores at time T0 and T3, and the variation T9 to T0, T15 to T0 and T21 to T0 of the MMSE scores, using also gender, age and drug as covariates. The significance was higher for the patients affected by mild dementia. Regarding functional activities, a significant relationship was detected, by the ANCOVA test, only between the scores at T3 and the variation T15 to T0 for BADL, and the variation T9 to T0, T15 to T0 for IADL, respectively. Our results confirm, in a real world setting, that ChEIs provide long-term cognitive benefit, which is correlated to, and predictable by, the short-term response (within the third month) as well as the cognitive status (evaluated by means of the MMSE) at the beginning of the treatment. These factors should be the basis of any cost/effectiveness algorithm in health economic decision models.     

Development of a Screening Algorithm for Alzheimer's Disease Using Categorical Verbal Fluency

We developed a weighted composite score of the categorical verbal fluency test (CVFT) that can more easily and widely screen Alzheimer''s disease (AD) than the mini-mental status examination (MMSE). We administered the CVFT using animal category and MMSE to 423 community-dwelling mild probable AD patients and their age- and gender-matched cognitively normal controls. To enhance the diagnostic accuracy for AD of the CVFT, we obtained a weighted composite score from subindex scores of the CVFT using a logistic regression model: logit (case)  = 1.160+0.474× gender +0.003× age +0.226× education level – 0.089× first-half score – 0.516× switching score -0.303× clustering score +0.534× perseveration score. The area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) for AD of this composite score AD was 0.903 (95% CI = 0.883 – 0.923), and was larger than that of the age-, gender- and education-adjusted total score of the CVFT (p<0.001). In 100 bootstrapped re-samples, the composite score consistently showed better diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity for AD than the total score. Although AUC for AD of the CVFT composite score was slightly smaller than that of the MMSE (0.930, p = 0.006), the CVFT composite score may be a good alternative to the MMSE for screening AD since it is much briefer, cheaper, and more easily applicable over phone or internet than the MMSE.     

Cerebrospinal Fluid PKR Level Predicts Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of the proapoptotic kinase R (PKR) and its phosphorylated PKR (pPKR) are increased in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but whether CSF PKR concentrations are associated with cognitive decline in AD patients remain unknown. In this study, 41 consecutive patients with AD and 11 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) from our Memory Clinic were included. A lumbar puncture was performed during the following month of the clinical diagnosis and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) evaluations were repeated every 6 months during a mean follow-up of 2 years. In AD patients, linear mixed models adjusted for age and sex were used to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between MMSE scores and baseline CSF levels of Aβ peptide (Aβ 1-42), Tau, phosphorylated Tau (p-Tau 181), PKR and pPKR. The mean (SD) MMSE at baseline was 20.5 (6.1) and MMSE scores declined over the follow-up (-0.12 point/month, standard error [SE] = 0.03). A lower MMSE at baseline was associated with lower levels of CSF Aβ 1–42 and p-Tau 181/Tau ratio. pPKR level was associated with longitudinal MMSE changes over the follow-up, higher pPKR levels being related with an exacerbated cognitive deterioration. Other CSF biomarkers were not associated with MMSE changes over time. In aMCI patients, mean CSF biomarker levels were not different in patients who converted to AD from those who did not convert.These results suggest that at the time of AD diagnosis, a higher level of CSF pPKR can predict a faster rate of cognitive decline.     

The discovery and early validation of novel plasma biomarkers in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease patients responding to treatment with rosiglitazone

Recent advances in clinical, pathological and neuroscience studies have identified disease-modifying therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease that are now in clinical trials. This has highlighted the need for reliable and convenient biomarkers for both early disease diagnosis and a rapid signal of drug efficacy. We describe the identification and assessment of a number of candidate biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer's disease and the correlation of those biomarkers with rosiglitazone therapeutic efficacy, as represented by a change in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog). Plasma from 41 patients with Alzheimer's disease were analysed by open platform proteomics at baseline and after receiving 8 mg rosiglitazone for 24 weeks. From a comparison of protein expression following treatment with rosiglitazone, 97 proteins were observed to be differentially ediffer xpressed with a p-value<0.01. From this analysis and comparison to recently published data from our laboratory, a prioritized list of 10 proteins were analysed by immunoassay and/or functional assay in a wider set of samples from the same clinical study, representing a rosiglitazone dose response, in order to verify the changes observed. A number of these proteins appeared to show a correlation with change in ADAS-Cog at the higher treatment doses compared with the placebo. Alpha-2-macroglobulin, complement C1 inhibitor, complement factor H and apolipoprotein E expression showed a correlation with ADAS-Cog score at the higher doses (4 mg and 8 mg). These results are discussed in light of the pathology and other recently published data.     

Predicting future clinical changes of MCI patients using longitudinal and multimodal biomarkers

Accurate prediction of clinical changes of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, including both qualitative change (i.e., conversion to Alzheimer's disease (AD)) and quantitative change (i.e., cognitive scores) at future time points, is important for early diagnosis of AD and for monitoring the disease progression. In this paper, we propose to predict future clinical changes of MCI patients by using both baseline and longitudinal multimodality data. To do this, we first develop a longitudinal feature selection method to jointly select brain regions across multiple time points for each modality. Specifically, for each time point, we train a sparse linear regression model by using the imaging data and the corresponding clinical scores, with an extra 'group regularization' to group the weights corresponding to the same brain region across multiple time points together and to allow for selection of brain regions based on the strength of multiple time points jointly. Then, to further reflect the longitudinal changes on the selected brain regions, we extract a set of longitudinal features from the original baseline and longitudinal data. Finally, we combine all features on the selected brain regions, from different modalities, for prediction by using our previously proposed multi-kernel SVM. We validate our method on 88 ADNI MCI subjects, with both MRI and FDG-PET data and the corresponding clinical scores (i.e., MMSE and ADAS-Cog) at 5 different time points. We first predict the clinical scores (MMSE and ADAS-Cog) at 24-month by using the multimodality data at previous time points, and then predict the conversion of MCI to AD by using the multimodality data at time points which are at least 6-month ahead of the conversion. The results on both sets of experiments show that our proposed method can achieve better performance in predicting future clinical changes of MCI patients than the conventional methods.     

盐酸美金刚联合银杏叶提取物对阿尔茨海默病患者血清BDNF、NGF、DA水平和认知功能的影响

目的:探讨盐酸美金刚联合银杏叶提取物对阿尔茨海默病患者血清脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)、神经营养因子(NGF)浓度、多巴胺(DA)水平和认知功能的影响。方法:将我院2017年6月至2018年7月收治的92例阿尔茨海默病患者按随机数字表法分为对照组49例和研究组43例,对照组采用盐酸美金刚治疗,研究组在对照组基础上联合银杏叶提取物治疗。比较两组临床疗效,治疗前后血清BDNF、NGF、DA水平、认知功能、简易精神状态检查量表(MMSE)、日常生活能力(ADL)评分的变化和不良反应的发生情况。结果:治疗后,研究组总有效率为90.70%,显著高于对照组(69.39%,P0.05)。治疗前,两组血清BDNF、NGF、DA水平、MMSE和ADL评分比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后,两组以上指标均较治疗前显著上升,且研究组以上指标明显高于对照组(P0.05)。两组不良反应总发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:盐酸美金刚联合银杏叶提取物可提高阿尔茨海默病的疗效,改善患者认知功能,可能与增加BDNF、NGF、DA的表达有关。     

阿尔茨海默病患者血清IL-10、IL-17、IL-33与肠道菌群相对丰度和认知功能的相关性分析

摘要 目的：分析阿尔茨海默病（AD）患者血清白介素（IL）-10、IL-17、IL-33与肠道菌群相对丰度和认知功能的相关性。方法：选择上海交通大学医学院附属第九人民医院老年科以及黄浦分院神经内科于2020年4月~2023年4月期间收治的AD患者 98例作为研究对象。根据临床痴呆评定量表（CDR）将AD患者分为轻度组（n=36）、中度组（n=39）、重度组（n=23）。对比三组患者的IL-10、IL-17、IL-33、肠道菌群相对丰度、认知功能评分。采用Pearson相关性分析AD患者血清IL-10、IL-17、IL-33与肠道菌群相对丰度和认知功能的相关性。结果：重度组、中度组的IL-17水平高于轻度组,且重度组高于中度组（P<0.05）。重度组、中度组IL-10、IL-33水平低于轻度组,且重度组低于中度组（P<0.05）。重度组、中度组的梭菌纲、厚壁菌门、梭菌科、梭菌目低于轻度组,且重度组低于中度组（P<0.05）。重度组、中度组的拟杆菌门、拟杆菌纲、拟杆菌目、产碱杆菌科高于轻度组,且重度组高于中度组（P<0.05）。重度组、中度组简易精神状态量表（MMSE）评分低于轻度组,且重度组低于中度组（P<0.05）。Pearson相关性分析结果显示,IL-10、IL-33与MMSE评分、厚壁菌门、梭菌纲、梭菌目、梭菌科呈正相关,与拟杆菌门、拟杆菌纲、拟杆菌目、产碱杆菌科呈负相关（P<0.05）。IL-17与MMSE评分、厚壁菌门、梭菌纲、梭菌目、梭菌科呈负相关,与拟杆菌门、拟杆菌纲、拟杆菌目、产碱杆菌科呈正相关（P<0.05）。结论：AD患者认知功能下降,血清IL-10、IL-17、IL-33水平异常变化,患者体内肠道菌群相对丰度异常,且IL-10、IL-17、IL-33水平与肠道菌群相对丰度、认知功能存在一定的相关性。     

膳食营养干预联合抗阻力训练治疗老年男性肌少症患者的临床效果分析

目的:分析膳食营养干预联合抗阻力训练治疗老年男性肌少症患者的临床效果。方法:选取200例老年男性肌少症患者作为研究对象,应用随机数字表法将其分为研究组和对照组,每组各100例。对照组患者给予常规营养和运动知识宣教干预,研究组给予膳食营养干预联合抗阻力训练,两组患者均连续干预6个月。检测和比较两组患者干预前后的握力、简短肌肉功能测试(SPPB)评分、日常生活能力(ADL)评分、左心室射血分数(LVEF)、蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)评分、简易智能状态检查量表(MMSE)评分的变化和认知功能损害的发生率。结果:干预后,研究组患者的握力、SPPB评分、ADL评分、LVEF、MoCA评分、MMSE评分均较干预前明显改善,且均明显优于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:膳食营养干预联合抗阻力训练可以改善老年男性肌少症患者的肌力,提高日常生活能力,增强心肌射血功能,并改善患者的认知功能。     

血塞通滴丸联合盐酸美金刚治疗阿尔茨海默病的临床研究

目的:分析血塞通滴丸联合盐酸美金刚治疗阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’sdisease,AD)患者的临床疗效及安全性。方法:本院就诊的AD患者60例。对照组给予盐酸美金刚,观察组在对照组的基础上给予血塞通滴丸。结果:治疗后观察组MMSE、ADL及GDS评分明显优于对照组,差异显著(P<0.05)。治疗后观察组TC、LDL-C明显少于对照组,差异显著(P<0.05)。两组均未出现明显不良反应患者。结论:应用血塞通滴丸联合盐酸美金刚治疗AD患者近期疗效好,毒副作用少,临床价值高。     

比较MoCA和MMSE在卒中后认知功能筛查中的应用

目的：比较蒙特利尔认知评估量表（Montreal Cognitive Assessment,MoCA）和简易智能量表（mini-mental state examination,MMSE）在急性缺血性脑卒中后认知损害筛查中的应用。方法：对65例缺血性脑卒中患者在发病14天内应用简易精神状态检查量表（Mini-mental State Examination,MMSE）和MoCA进行神经心理评估。其中12例患者在发病3-6个月后应用MMSE、MoCA和神经心理成套测验进行神经心理评估。以MMSE〈23分、MoCA〈21为分界值,受教育年限小于12年加1分,文盲加2分。结果：MMSE的平均分值为25.2±4.3,MoCA的平均分值为18.6±5.7。37例患者MoCA评分显示有认知损害,但其中19例患者（29%）MMSE评分显示正常。28例MoCA评估显示认知正常的患者的MMSE评分均显示认知正常。视空间与执行功能、注意和语言重复测试受损最常见,定向和命名受损较少。在3-6个月的随访期内,12例患者中1例诊断为血管性痴呆患者的MoCA的分值上升1分,MMSE分值无变化;5例认知正常患者、3例轻度认知损害无痴呆的患者和3例中度认知损害无痴呆的患者MMSE和MoCA平均分值均有不同程度的上升,视空间与执行功能平均得分值在2次检测中无明显变化。结论：MoCA较MMSE检出血管性认知功能障碍患者敏感性更高,对认知变化更为敏感。     

Platelet biomarkers for a descending cognitive function: A proteomic approach

Memory loss is the most common clinical sign in Alzheimer''s disease (AD); thus, searching for peripheral biomarkers to predict cognitive decline is promising for early diagnosis of AD. As platelets share similarities to neuron biology, it may serve as a peripheral matrix for biomarkers of neurological disorders. Here, we conducted a comprehensive and in‐depth platelet proteomic analysis using TMT‐LC‐MS/MS in the populations with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, MMSE = 18–23), severe cognitive impairments (AD, MMSE = 2–17), and the age‐/sex‐matched normal cognition controls (MMSE = 29–30). A total of 360 differential proteins were detected in MCI and AD patients compared with the controls. These differential proteins were involved in multiple KEGG pathways, including AD, AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, telomerase RNA localization, platelet activation, and complement activation. By correlation analysis with MMSE score, three positively correlated pathways and two negatively correlated pathways were identified to be closely related to cognitive decline in MCI and AD patients. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) showed that changes of nine proteins, including PHB, UQCRH, CD63, GP1BA, FINC, RAP1A, ITPR1/2, and ADAM10 could effectively distinguish the cognitively impaired patients from the controls. Further machine learning analysis revealed that a combination of four decreased platelet proteins, that is, PHB, UQCRH, GP1BA, and FINC, was most promising for predicting cognitive decline in MCI and AD patients. Taken together, our data provide a set of platelet biomarkers for predicting cognitive decline which may be applied for the early screening of AD.     

The Mini Mental State Examination at the Time of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Diagnosis,According to Age,Education, Gender and Place of Residence: A Cross-Sectional Study among the French National Alzheimer Database

The aim of this study

was firstly to describe the MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) score upon initial diagnosis of Alzheimer''s disease and related disorders among the French population, according to age. Secondly, education, gender and place of residence were studied as factors potentially associated with delayed Alzheimer''s disease diagnosis.

Design

we conducted a cross sectional analysis of the French National Alzheimer database (BNA). Data from 2008 to 2012 were extracted. Patients were selected at the moment of their first diagnosis of AD (n = 39,451).

Results

The MMSE score at initial diagnosis dropped significantly with increasing age. The test score increased with the degree of educational background regardless of age. Gender and place of residence were significantly related to the MMSE score, women and persons living in medical institutions having lower MMSE scores under the age of 90 years and at all educational levels.

Conclusions

Health care professionals should be aware of these risk factors in order to maximize chances of earliest possible diagnosis of Alzheimer''s disease and related disorders.     

Huperzine A as Potential Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: An Assessment on Chemistry,Pharmacology, and Clinical Studies

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the fourth leading cause of death in adults, characterized by hallmark neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Current treatments focus only on symptom relief. As a possible new treatment option for AD, huperzine A's chemistry, pharmacology, and clinical effectiveness are assessed. The chemical synthesis of huperzine A has been optimized, while an in vitro technique has provided a renewable plant source. Pharmacological studies showed that the drug inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase reversibly and selectively. Huperzine A also displayed good pharmacokinetics with a rapid absorption and a wide distribution in the body at a low to moderate rate of elimination. Presently, inadequate toxicity data in human have been reported, yet animal studies demonstrated mild to moderate cholinergic side effects at therapeutic doses. Previous clinical trials have shown improvement in memory function using MMSE, MQ, ADAS‐COG, and ADL tests. In an unpublished phase II clinical trial, the ADAS‐COG and MMSE tests indicated cognitive enhancement at a dose of 0.4 mg, yet no improvement was observed at a dose of 0.2 mg. The MMSE scores indicated cognitive enhancement at 0.4 mg. Promising data suggested that huperzine A is well tolerated at doses up to 0.4 mg for 24 weeks. Therefore, huperzine A seems to be a potential treatment option for AD.     

Cholinesterase inhibitors in mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review of randomised trials

Background

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to a transitional zone between normal ageing and dementia. Despite the uncertainty regarding the definition of MCI as a clinical entity, clinical trials have been conducted in the attempt to study the role of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) currently approved for symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer disease (AD), in preventing progression from MCI to AD. The objective of this review is to assess the effects of ChEIs (donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine) in delaying the conversion from MCI to Alzheimer disease or dementia.

Methods and Findings

The terms “donepezil”, “rivastigmine”, “galantamine”, and “mild cognitive impairment” and their variants, synonyms, and acronyms were used as search terms in four electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, PsycINFO) and three registers: the Cochrane Collaboration Trial Register, Current Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Published and unpublished studies were included if they were randomized clinical trials published (or described) in English and conducted among persons who had received a diagnosis of MCI and/or abnormal memory function documented by a neuropsychological assessment. A standardized data extraction form was used. The reporting quality was assessed using the Jadad scale. Three published and five unpublished trials met the inclusion criteria (three on donepezil, two on rivastigmine, and three on galantamine). Enrolment criteria differed among the trials, so the study populations were not homogeneous. The duration of the trials ranged from 24 wk to 3 y. No significant differences emerged in the probability of conversion from MCI to AD or dementia between the treated groups and the placebo groups. The rate of conversion ranged from 13% (over 2 y) to 25% (over 3 y) among treated patients, and from 18% (over 2 y) to 28% (over 3 y) among those in the placebo groups. Only for two studies was it possible to derive point estimates of the relative risk of conversion: 0.85 (95% confidence interval 0.64–1.12), and 0.84 (0.57–1.25). Statistically significant differences emerged for three secondary end points. However, when adjusting for multiple comparisons, only one difference remained significant (i.e., the rate of atrophy in the whole brain).

Conclusions

The use of ChEIs in MCI was not associated with any delay in the onset of AD or dementia. Moreover, the safety profile showed that the risks associated with ChEIs are not negligible. The uncertainty regarding MCI as a clinical entity raises the question as to the scientific validity of these trials.