LONG-TERM TREATMENT WITH TACRINE (THA) IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE - EVALUATION OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL DATA

Long-term effects of tacrine (THA) on cognitive functions of very mild AD patients were studied. The stability of possible positive changes following prolonged treatment and the effect of increased dose was als o studied. Three patients were treated with tacrine (80 mg/day) and th e effect on cognitive functions was measured with a neuropsychological test battery. Two of the patients (Pats 1 and 4) showed clear positiv e changes in all parameters measured. The third patient (Pat 5) did no t show as clear positive responses. The effect of the initial treatmen t dose diminished over time. After raising the dose two of the patient s showed improvement in cognitive tests reaching their initial level o f performance or even better in most of the tests. This positive effec t was not as clear in patient 5. After 13 months of tacrine all patien ts still showed positive changes in some of the tests. Compared to a h ypothetical progression curve for untreated AD patients the patients t reated with tacrine seemed to have slower progression. In conclusion, it seems that long-term positive effects on cognitive functions of AD patients can be reached with tacrine and it seems to be possible to sl ow down the progression of the disease. However, to reach long-term po sitive effects increasing doses seem to be needed. AD patients seem to differ in their response to tacrine.