Tetrahydroaminoacridine-lecithin combination treatment in patients with intermediate-stage Alzheimer's disease: results of a Canadian double-blind, crossover, multicenter study

Article Abstract:

Alzheimer's disease, which causes a devastating dementia (mental deterioration) in large numbers of older persons, has received much attention from researchers looking for an effective treatment. One study reported that a combination of tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA), which is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, and lecithin, a phospholipid, was effective in patients with Alzheimer's disease. This combination was again tested in a controlled, double-blind study in which neither the patients nor the researchers knew when the subjects were receiving the THA and when they were instead receiving inert placebos. The numbers of patients that participated in different phases of the study were 52, 46 and 39; their ages ranged from 51 to 88 and all were classified as having intermediate-stage Alzheimer's disease. The maximum dose of THA that could be tolerated without significant toxic effects had been determined in a previous study to be 100 milligrams daily; patients were given up to this amount depending on individual tolerance. Throughout the study, all patients also took purified lecithin in a dose of 4.7 grams per day. The subjects were evaluated using several tests of behavior and mental state, and it was concluded that the results did not show a significant benefit from THA and lecithin over an eight-week period of therapy. The authors note that higher doses of THA might yield improvement in mental state, but these doses would probably cause significant toxicity to the liver and autonomic nervous system and therefore might not be safe. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Lecithin, Tacrine

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Lack of efficacy of Hydergine in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Article Abstract:

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive degenerative brain disorder leading to cognitive impairment and, eventually, total loss of cognition and ability to function. The disease may exist with or without the presence of other psychiatric symptoms, and in particular, many Alzheimer's patients have also been diagnosed with depression. There is no known effective drug treatment for the disease. A mixture of ergoloid mesylates, Hydergine, is currently the only medication approved for treating Alzheimer's disease. A study of 80 patients aged 55 through 79 years were included in a clinical trial. All patients had a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease for at least six months before entering the study. Subjects were eliminated from the study if evidence of depression or other possible causes of dementia were uncovered. The patients underwent a two-week washout to eliminate the effect of any previous drug therapy, and were given exhaustive physical and neuropsychiatric examinations. Patients were blindly and randomly assigned to either a Hydergine or a placebo (inert control) treatment group. During the treatment period, the patients were seen every six weeks by a nurse who monitored compliance and the well-being of the patients. A total of 12 patients left the study, six from each group. There were no significant differences between the 39 treated patients and the 41 patients receiving the placebo. The results indicate that the administration of Hydergine for up to six months has no beneficial effect on patients with probable Alzheimer's disease. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Case studies, Product/Service Evaluation, Ergoloid mesylates, Hydergine (Medication)

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Treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Article Abstract:

Several drugs are available to treat Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by memory loss and intellectual dysfunction. Many of the neurologic problems are thought to be caused by a loss of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Therefore, many drugs used to treat the condition increase the supply of this neurotransmitter. These drugs include physostigmine, tacrine, donepezil, metrifonate, rivastigmine, and eptastigmine. Other drugs slow the progression of the disease and include selegiline, idebenone, and propentofylline. Alzheimer's patients may also have depression, delusions, psychosis, and sleep disturbances.

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