Metrifonate benefits cognitive, behavioral, and global function in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Metrifonate was safe and well-tolerated. It enhanced not only the cognitive and global function, but also the behavioral function of patients diagnosed with mild to moderate AD. Therefore, metrifonate appears to be useful in the symptomatic treatment of AD.

Donepezil and related cholinesterase inhibitors as mood and behavioral controlling agents

“…Kaufer [22•] reported beneficial effects of metrifonate in AD patients on the NPI total score, aberrant motor behavior, and in symptoms of depression, apathy and hallucinations when compared with placebo in a 26-week trial. In a study by Morris et al [23] metrifonate was associated with improvements in behavioral and global functioning as well as cognitive functioning in mildmoderate AD patients over a 36-week period when compared with placebo. Cummings et al [24] and Raskind et al [25] reported similar results in mild-moderate AD patients over a 6-month period as measured by the NPI.…”

Role of Cholinesterase Inhibitors in Managing Behavioral Problems in Alzheimer's Disease

“…In a 26-week, doubleblind study of metrifonate treatment in patients with mild to moderate AD, the NPI was used to measure behavioral outcomes. 31 Metrifonate treatment was associated with significantly less decline in neuropsychiatric disturbances compared with placebo (p < .05). 31 A recent meta-analysis of clinical studies assessing neuropsychiatric outcomes with the NPI in patients with mild to moderate AD reported modest benefits of the ChE inhibitors tacrine, donepezil, galantamine, and metrifonate for behavioral symptoms.…”

“…31 Metrifonate treatment was associated with significantly less decline in neuropsychiatric disturbances compared with placebo (p < .05). 31 A recent meta-analysis of clinical studies assessing neuropsychiatric outcomes with the NPI in patients with mild to moderate AD reported modest benefits of the ChE inhibitors tacrine, donepezil, galantamine, and metrifonate for behavioral symptoms. 40 However, interpretation of these results is limited by the low incidence of behavioral problems and the use of psychoactive medications in this patient cohort.…”

“…Tariot et al, 15 Behavioral symptoms are ameliorated in patients with AD receiving ChE inhibitors. Feldman et al, 30 and Morris et al 31 Bodick et al 32 Cholinergic replacement therapy with xanomeline and other cholinomimetics results in dramatic and favorable effects on disturbing behaviors in AD. Tariot et al 37 Behavioral symptoms improved in nursing home patients with AD receiving ChE inhibitors.…”

Anti-dementia drugs: what difference do they make?

“…In addition to changes in cognition, cholinesterase inhibitors also have a beneficial effect on behaviour, reducing apathy, visual hallucinations and purposeless activity such as pacing. 5,6 Cognitive and behavioural abnormalities in AD produce distress in caregivers, and improvement in either of these domains ameliorates caregiver burden. 5 Cholinesterase inhibitors exert less potent effects than required of an ideal anti-dementia agent.…”