abstract: Efficacy and safety of memantine in dementia with Lewy bodies.

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http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=18577956

[Efficacy and safety of memantine in dementia with Lewy bodies.]

Levin OS, Batukaeva LA, Smolentseva IG, Amosova NA

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2008; 108(5): 39-46

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a progressive disease of the nervous

system manifested with dementia, parkinsonism, psychotic and autonomic

disturbances. To estimate efficacy and safety of memantine in patients with

clinically diagnosed DLB (according to criteria of Mc et al., 1999), an

open controlled 16-week trial was carried out in 23 patients, mean age

69,2+/-5,9 years. Patients were divided into 2 groups: 14 patients who

received memantine in dosage 20 mg/d and 9 patients of a control group. A

battery of neuropsychological tests, clinical assessment using fluctuation

scales, scales for assessment of behavioral and psychotic disturbances, the

General Clinical Impression scale were used. Memantine significantly

improved cognitive dysfunction throughout the study (the mean MMSE scorer

were increased by 1,5 points compared to the baseline) especially due to the

improvement of attention and executive functions. The reduction of

fluctuations of mental status, aggressiveness, aspontaneity, disinhibition

was also observed. There were no significant changes of Parkinsonian and

psychotic symptoms severity. Good tolerability of memantine is noted: only 2

patients were withdrawn from the study because of episodes of confusion on

the titration phase of the trial.

His,

Sherry

www.owly.net

daughter of , (mis?)diagnosed with AD in 2005, descent slowed by

Aricept; diagnosed with LBD March 2008, in a wonderful NH 1/2 mile from my

house. We're learning to live with Lewy...