INTRACEREBROVENTRICULAR ADMINISTRATION OF GM1 GANGLIOSIDE TO PRESENILE ALZHEIMER PATIENTS

We have conducted a preliminary study of the optimum conditions for a therapeutic effect of ganglioside GM1 in Alzheimer's disease. Five pat ients with the early onset form of Alzheimer's disease (AD type I) rec eived the ganglioside by intracerebroventricular administration for 12 months. Bilateral stereotactic punction of the frontal horns of the v entricular system was performed, and shunt catheters were implanted an d connected to a programmable pump. The optimum GM1 dose varied betwee n 20 and 30 mg/24 h. Neurological, neuropsychological, psychiatric and neurochemical examinations were performed 7 days before surgery and o n days 30, 90, 180 and 360. No patient found the surgery difficult and no patient or relative regretted that they participated in the study. The patients became more active and safer in relation to others and t o performance of various activities from day 90. The cerebrospinal flu id level of the monoamine metabolites homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyi ndoleacetic acid and the neuropeptide somatostatin increased.