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| |  Donepezil And Metrifonate Effective In Alzheimer's Patients MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- April 29, 1998 -- New treatments for Alzheimer's disease may help patients perform their daily activities and relieve stress for their caregivers. Several studies on two new drugs were presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 50th anniversary annual meeting this week in Minneapolis, MN. Both drugs -- donepezil and metrifonate -- are a type of cholinesterase inhibitor, which acts by blocking the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical that carries messages between brain nerve cells. Loss of acetylcholine is responsible in part for the cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease. Donepezil is available for use for Alzheimer's; metrifonate has not been approved for use for Alzheimer's. A study was presented showing that donepezil improves behavioural symptoms such as apathy, hallucinations and purposeless, repetitive movements in addition to cognitive symptoms, for which it was approved. The study of 40 Alzheimer's patients also showed a significant reduction in the stress levels of patients' caregivers. "Any benefit on behavioural symptoms is important because such symptoms often contribute to caregiver burden and nursing home placement," said neurologist Daniel Kaufer, MD, director of the Alzheimer's Treatment Program at the University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Another study of 1,035 patients of community-based physicians shows that donepezil is as effective and safe among this population -- which is more likely to represent the average Alzheimer's patients' experience -- as it was in studies conducted at centres specialising in Alzheimer's research. A 26-week study of 1,218 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease found that metrifonate significantly improves patients' ability to perform basic daily activities such as dressing and eating as well as other activities such as making a phone call and doing housework when compared to patients who were given a placebo. "This may help patients remain at home for a longer period of time and help reduce the burden on their families," said Isabelle Gelinas, PhD, of McGill University in Montreal, QC. "This in turn could have a positive impact on their quality of life." Another analysis of the same 26-week study found that metrifonate significantly improves cognitive function in patients when compared to untreated patients. Patients who received a higher dosage of the drug (60 mg or 80 mg, based on the patient's weight) showed more improvement than those who received a lower dosage (a 50-mg fixed dose or 30-60 mg based on weight).
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