DIFFERENTIAL NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOM RESPONSES TO TACRINE IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE - RELATIONSHIP TO DEMENTIA SEVERITY

Neuropsychiatric symptom responses to tacrine were investigated in an open-label study of Alzheimer's outpatients. Forty subjects were strat ified into three groups (Mild, Moderate, and Severe) based on Mini-Men tal State Examination scores. A significant reduction in total Neurops ychiatric Inventory score across all subjects was principally attribut able to changes in the Moderate group. Apathy and disinhibition sympto ms were significantly reduced overall. Whereas other symptoms showed d ifferential responses in Mild and Severe subjects, all symptoms improv ed in Moderate subjects. These findings suggest that disease severity may significantly influence neuropsychiatric symptom responses to tacr ine. Putative mechanisms underlying the observed pattern of responses are explored.