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| |  Memantine Effective For Patients With Severe Dementia RICHMOND, CA -- March 4, 1999 -- Results from a phase III human clinical trial of Merz & Co.’s Memantine show that severely demented subjects treated with Memantine had statistically significant improvement compared to placebo in internationally accepted measures of functional independence, including bathing, dressing and self-care. The data are presented in the current issue of the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. In the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 166 elderly, care-dependent and severely demented patients were randomised to receive a 10mg oral dose of Memantine or placebo for 12 weeks. All patients were diagnosed with primary dementia: 49 percent with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 51 percent with vascular or mixed-type dementia. Subjects' motor performance and functional independence were assessed after four and 12 weeks of treatment using two standard scales. The effect of Memantine, as evaluated on both scales, resulted in statistically significant improvement compared to placebo. Functional evaluations performed by physicians and nursing staff included ability to move, wash, bathe and dress, as well as the ability to recognise persons and participate in group activities. Memantine was well-tolerated and no significant side effects were reported. Memantine is an orally-deliverable compound that appears to restore the function of impaired neurons by modulating activity of the NMDA receptor, integral to the proper function of the membranes of such cells. Such restoration of function may inhibit injured or damaged neurons from firing abnormally, a pathological process associated with many neurological conditions, including senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease, neuropathy and AIDS dementia. Severe dementia is characterised by the progressive decline of motor and cognitive skills associated with multiple central nervous system disorders, chiefly neurodegenerative conditions such as AD. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately four million people are currently affected by AD in the United States. There are currently no approved treatments indicating clinical benefits in patients with severe AD.
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