CLINICAL AND NEUROCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF ACETYL-L-CARNITINE IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

In a double-blind, placebo study, acetyl-L-carnitine was administered to 7 probable Alzheimer's disease patients who were then compared by c linical and P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopic measures to 5 placeb o-treated probable AD patients and 21 age-matched healthy controls ove r the course of 1 year. Compared to AD patients on placebo, acetyl-L-c arnitine-treated patients showed significantly less deterioration in t heir Mini-Mental Status and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale test scores. Furthermore, the decrease in phosphomonoester levels observed in both the acetyl-L-carnitine and placebo AD groups al entry was norm alized;in the acetyl-L-carnitine-treated but not in the placebo-treate d patients. Similar normalization of high-energy phosphate levels was observed in the acetyl-L-carnitine-treated but not in the placebo-trea ted patients. This is the first direct in vivo demonstration of a bene ficial effect of a drug on both clinical and CNS neurochemical paramet ers in AD.