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Galantamine Hydrobromide Delays Alzheimer's Symptoms by 18 Months: Presented at APA

By Alison Palkhivala

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- May 23, 2002 -- The anti-dementia drug galantamine hydrobromide has been shown to delay the cognitive decline of Alzheimer's disease over three years, according to new research.

The study was presented here this week at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

For this three-year analysis, Alzheimer's disease patients, who were involved in one of two earlier double-blind trials comparing galantamine hydrobromide to placebo, were asked if they would like to participate in further research. They were given the opportunity to continue the drug (24 mg/day) as part of an open-label design.

A total of 327 patients entered the open-label trial; 182 completed the study, 90 took galantamine hydrobromide continuously for 36 months.

The investigators, led by Murray Raskind, MD, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the department of Veteran's Affairs, Puget Sound Healthcare System, in Tacoma, Washington, assessed the cognition of the participants at 12, 24, and 36 months and compared it to expected rates of cognitive decline in untreated patients. Expected rates of decline were based on research by Robert Stern, MD, from the University of Massachusetts. The ADAS-cog/11 scale was used to assess cognition.

According to a post-hoc analysis, after three years, 53 percent of patients on galantamine hydrobromide declined by 10 points or less on the ADAS-cog/11 scale. This is half the cognitive decline expected in untreated Alzheimer's patients over the same time period.

One-fifth of the galantamine hydrobromide patients had not declined significantly below their baseline values. The investigators estimate that galantamine hydrobromide delays progression of Alzheimer's disease by approximately 18 months.`

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