THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF VINCAMINE IN DEMENTIA

This trial was performed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of vi ncamine in the treatment of primary degenerative and vascular dementia . 152 male and female patients aged between 50 and 85 years from two p sychogeriatric centers and two nursing homes were initially included i n the trial and screened for eligibility. 142 patients completed the t rial. Clinical diagnosis was established according to DSM-III-R criter ia. Allocation of the patients to the primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) group or the multiinfarct dementia (MID) gro up was based on computed tomography scans, electroencephalographic fin dings and the Hachinski Ischemic Score. In a 12-week double-blind trea tment either 30 mg vincamine or placebo was given twice daily. Confirm atory statistics included item 2 of the Clinical Global Impression (CG I), the total score of the Sandoz Clinical Assessment Geriatric (SCAG) scale, the subscale 'need for help' of the nurse's rating of geriatri c patients (Beurteilungsskala fur geriatrische Patienten; BGP) and the total score of the Short Cognitive Performance Test (Syndrom-Kurztest ; SKT). In addition, data on tolerance and on therapy response were ev aluated based on descriptive statistics. The therapeutic efficacy of v incamine was clearly demonstrated by confirmatory analysis as the drug was statistically significantly superior to placebo in all four targe t variables. The clinical relevance of the outcome was further underli ned by the results of the responder analysis of the variables SCAG, BG P and SKT. Based on the results of this trial, it can be accepted that the therapeutic effect of vincamine is superior to placebo in patient s with mild to moderate dementia of degenerative and vascular etiologi es.