Treatment of Alzheimer's disease with short- and long-term oral THA and lecithin: a double-blind study

Article Abstract:

In recent years, clinicians and researchers have unsuccessfully searched for an effective drug to treat Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is an organic brain disorder characterized by a progressive dementia and caused by the atrophy of the frontal and occipital lobes, which eventually results in the complete loss of intellectual function. There currently exists no cure and no effective treatment for this condition. Experiments have been done with drugs that enhance central synaptic acetylcholine, a substance believed to play an important role in the transmission of nerve impulses. One of these drugs that has attracted considerable interest is tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA). THA and lecithin (a fatty substance involved in, among other things, the hydrolysis of choline) were administered to ten men who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The ten subjects first received the drug as inpatients. Six of the original group continued to participate in a second phase as outpatients; three dropped out because of liver enzyme irregularities and one individual deteriorated to a point where he had to be institutionalized. Cognitive improvements were observed in approximately one-third of the original group after treatment with THA was begun. However, only modest improvements were noted. Only one subject showed significant improvement and this was primarily noticed during testing. These findings are limited by the small sample size and the advanced stage of illness in about half the subjects. Previous trials with the drug have yielded better responses to THA treatment for Alzheimer's disease. THA may still prove to be an effective treatment, but additional research is needed. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Case studies, Evaluation, Lecithin, Tacrine

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Clinical assessment of irritability, aggression, and apathy in Huntington and Alzheimer disease

Article Abstract:

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Huntington's disease (HD) are chronic, degenerative brain diseases characterized by impaired mental functioning and motor disturbances. Patients afflicted with these diseases often become irritable and aggressive, and suffer from a loss of emotion (apathy). Recently, a new scale that measures irritability and apathy has been developed and tested in 31 patients with AD and 26 patients with HD. Aggression was also measured using an already existing test. Patients with AD and HD had similar rates of apathy and irritability. Fifty-nine percent of the patients with HD were aggressive and 39 percent of the AD patients were aggressive. A sample of patients with HD or AD who had a similar degree of mental impairment revealed that HD patients were more apathetic than patients with AD. This finding is consistent with the traditional view that HD patients suffer from a greater lack of emotion than patients with AD. Irritability in HD but not AD patients was related to whether the patient had a 'bad temper' prior to the onset of their disease. This new scale is reliable and obtains the information from an observer of the patient's behavior. In conclusion, a new reliable scale that measures apathy and irritability has been developed and should aid the clinician in the diagnosis of HD and AD. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Psychological aspects, Diagnosis, Measurement, Huntington's chorea, Huntington's disease, Aggressiveness (Psychology), Apathy

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