THE EFFECTS OF NICOTINE IN DERMAL PLASTER ON COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Eighteen patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (NINCDS/ADRDA crit eria) participated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study, with a crossover design. The patients had mild or moderate dementia (MMSE = 20.3 +/- 4.6, range 12-28). The trial consisted of two 4-week periods with a 2-week washout period in between. Nicotine was given in the for m of dermal plasters. Most of the patients tolerated the highest doses of 21 mg nicotine/24 h, but some received 14 mg/24 h. The effect was monitored with tests of short-term memory, verbal fluency, attention a nd psychomotor speed. Nicotine was also determined in the blood. Short -term memory improved significantly after 4 weeks of treatment, both o n nicotine and placebo (p < 0.05/p < 0.01). The results of our study t hus do not indicate that nicotine applied in the form of dermal plaste rs is of any significance in the treatment of memory deficits in patie nt with Alzheimer's disease.