EFFECTS OF METRIFONATE ON COGNITIVE DECLINE IN ALZHEIMER-DISEASE - A DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED, 6-MONTH STUDY

Forty-seven patients with probable Alzheimer disease (AD) completed a 6 month double-blind study to compare metrifonate with placebo. The Al zheimer Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale score of the metri fonate group treated to a 50-70% inhibition of red blood cell acetylch olinesterase activity differed significantly from the placebo group sc ore by 1.8 points (p < 0.03) due to a deterioration in cognitive perfo rmance in the placebo group (p < 0.01). Statistically significant dete rioration also occurred in the Mini-Mental State Examination scores (p < 0.01) in the placebo-treated group. Adverse effects were uncommon a nd did not require adjustment of the dose of metrifonate or discontinu ation of treatment. These findings extend our previous report of a fav orable effect of metrifonate on cognitive symptoms in AD by showing cl inical, not only statistical, significance.