Drug Slows Progression of Moderate to Severe A|zhe|mer’s Disease
l A drug that suppresses the activity of a Approved medications for mild to for treatment and prevention of
key brain chemical could be the firSt cf- moderate AD in America are aimed at Alzheimer’s disease," said Greg Coo-
fective treatment for patients in the a diHerent chemical system in the per, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor,
later stages of Alzheimer’s disease brain. These drugs strengthen the activ- Department of Neurology, UK College
(AD), according to the results of a ity of brain cells that use the brain of Medicine, and medical director of the
j large multi-Center CliHiCHl study pub- chemical acetylcholine, which is also UK Alzheimer’s Disease Research
lished in the New England Journal 0f for improving memory. Center’s outreach clinic at Lexington
Medicine. The study involved 32 medical cen- Clinic.
The drug, memantine, slows the ters nationwide and enrolled 252 pa- In fact, UK Sanders-Brown Center
mental and physical deterioration of tients, who lived independently. All had on Aging researchers are working on
patients with moderate to severe AD, difficulty with daily activities, but could the largest prevention trial in the
according to Frederick Schmitt, PI`Of€$· still speak and walk. During the ran- university’s history. PREADVISE (Pre-
Sor, Department Of Ncurelegy, UK domized, double—blind 28—week study, vention of Alzheimer’s Disease by Vita- A
College of Medicine. patients received either memantine or min E and Selenium) will link with
UK Sanders-Brown Center on Ag- a placebo twice a day. Behavioral, cog- SELECT (Selenium and Vitamin E
ing, directed by William R. Markesbery, nitive and functional tests were used to Cancer Prevention Trial) in a large Na-
M.D., participated in the study led by evaluate patients at the beginning and tional Cancer Institute-supported study
Barry Reisberg, M-D, professor cf PSY- end of the study. looking at the effects of vitamin E and
chiatry at New York University School Overall, the study found that the pa- selenium in preventing prostate cancer.
of Medicine. tients who were taking memantine Memantine is manufactured by Merz
"Although this drug stabilizes and showed significantly less deterioration Pharmaceuticals, based in Frankfurt,
slows progression, cells are still dying," in cognition and ability to perform Germany. In the United States, Forrest
Schmitt said. "However, this drug may daily life activities. The side effects Pharmaceuticals Inc., based in New
result in delaying nursing home place- from the drug were minimal. York City, has licensed the drug from
ment from six months to a year. We "Even though we need medications Merz. The Food and Drug Administra-
now are looking at memantine for to treat Alzheimer’s disease, we also tion is reviewing the drug. Grants from
early Alzheimer’s disease." have to keep up the efforts to prevent Merz Pharmaceuticals and the National
"These patients seem to be declining the disease. The future is looking better Institute on Aging support the study.
much less, about half as much as ordi-
narily expected, over a six-month pe- . ,r William R
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will slow down the otherwise inexo- I ‘  .; is director
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AD is the most common form of de-     V  Center on
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A KENTUCKY ALUMNI 9