L-DEPRENYL IN THE TREATMENT OF MILD DEMENTIA OF THE ALZHEIMER-TYPE - RESULTS OF A 15-MONTH TRIAL

Objective: To examine the cognitive and behavioral effects of L-depren yl in persons with mild dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) over a 15 -month period. Design: A 15-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-co ntrolled trial using a parallel-group design. Participants: 39 subject s with mild DAT (CDR 1) selected using NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Outcome Measures: A battery of neuropsychological tests and dinical rating sca les. Results: The placebo and L-deprenyl subjects were similar at base line on the clinical and neuropsychological tests. The total score on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was significantly less after 15 months in subjects taking L-deprenyl. The only individual item of the BPRS which differed between groups was disorientation. There was n o evidence of a L-deprenyl effect on any other clinical or neuropsycho logical measure after 2, 8, or 15 months. Conclusion: L-deprenyl did a ppear to have a slight effect on a single measure of psychopathology, the BPRS. It did not have a measurable impact on any other measure of behavior or cognitive function over a 15-month period in this group of subjects with mild DAT and did not appear to slow the progression of the disease.