SHORT-TERM ADMINISTRATION OF SELEGILINE FOR MILD-TO-MODERATE DEMENTIAOF THE ALZHEIMERS TYPE

AS a follow-up to an earlier study showing short-term benefit in inpat ients with more severe dementia, the authors studied the short-term co gnitive, functional, and behavioral effects of selegiline in outpatien ts with mild-to-moderate dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) by means of a double-blind, randomized, crossover study of placebo vs. selegil ine. Fifty outpatients with mild-to-moderate DAT and no behavioral dis turbances were given selegiline in two 8-week treatment periods separa ted by a 4-week washout. Outcome was assessed with standardized measur es of dementia severity, daily functioning, behavior, and cognition. T here was no drug-placebo difference in any outcome measure. Selegiline did not show short-term benefit in this study, contrary to the earlie r study, perhaps because the patients were studied less intensively an d/or lacked behavioral problems that could show response, although the medication was well tolerated.