A controlled trial of tacrine in Alzheimer's disease
Article Abstract:
The drug tacrine may improve mental and emotional function in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). A total of 468 patients with AD were divided into six groups. For the duration of the 12-week study, group 1 received a placebo, (an inactive substance), group 3 took 20 milligrams (mg) of tacrine each day and group 5 took 40 mg of tacrine each day. After six weeks group 2 changed from placebo to 20 mg/day of tacrine, group 4 changed from 20 mg/day of tacrine to 40 mg/day and group 6 changed from 40 md/day of tacrine to 80 mg/day. At the end of 12 weeks, the patients who had taken 40 and 80 mg/day of tacrine had improved scores on tests that measure intellectual function, memory, language, mood and behavior. This was noted by the patients' caregivers as well as the physicians. Tacrine inhibits the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, which is thought to be deficient in AD patients.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1992
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A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial of an extract of Ginkgo biloba for dementia
Article Abstract:
An extract of the plant Ginkgo biloba called EGb may improve or at least stabilize symptoms of dementia in patients with Alzheimer's disease. This compound is thought to be an antioxidant and free radicals may be involved in the neurological cell damage seen in Alzheimer's patients. Researchers randomly assigned 202 Alzheimer's patients to take EGb or a placebo every day for up to one year. Thirty-seven percent of the patients taking EGb experienced an improvement in symptoms on psychological tests compared to 23% of those taking a placebo. The improvement was often moderate but was noticed by the patients' caregivers.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1997
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Cholinesterase Inhibition for Alzheimer Disease; A Meta-analysis of the Tacrine Trials
Article Abstract:
More research is needed to determine whether patients with Alzheimer's disease will benefit from the drug tacrine. Researchers analyzed 12 clinical trials covering 1,984 patients with Alzheimer's disease who were given tacrine or a placebo. Although tacrine improved scores on intellectual function, the changes were often small. Measures of functional ability were not affected by the drug.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1998
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