LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF TACRINE ON REGIONAL CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW CHANGES IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was studied in patients with Alzhe imer's disease (AD) before and after 14 months of tacrine treatment. T he treated group was compared with an identical reference group of unt reated AD patients. At baseline the two groups showed an identical rCB F and mean hemispheric blood flow. After 14 months the tacrine-treated patients showed a stable rCBF level and a significant increase in rCB F in the central-parietal regions, compared to the untreated reference group, who showed typical AD reductions in rCBF in these regions. Cli nical outcome: 7 of 9 patients in the tacrine group were clinically un changed or slightly improved during the study time. In the untreated g roup 8 of 11 patients had deteriorated in clinical assessments and non e had improved. Long-term tacrine treatment in Alzheimer's disease may delay the progression of symptoms.