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Metrifonate Enhances the Ability of Alzheimer's Disease Patients to Initiate, Organize, and Execute Instrumental and Basic Activities of Daily Living

Serge Gauthier, MD

PamelaA. Cyrus, MD

The objective of this analysis was to evaluate comprehensively the efficacy of metrifonate, a long-acting acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, in improving the ability of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Alzheimer's disease patients with Mini-Mental State Examination scores of 10 to 26 were enrolled in three 26-week trials to receive once-daily placebo (n = 430) or metrifonate 30 to 60 mg (by weight, n = 650) or 60/80 mg (by weight, n = 197). Metrifonate efficacy was assessed using the Disability Assessment for Dementia scale. Data from the three studies were pooled and analyzed retrospectively. The intent-to-treat analysis (last observation carried forward) at 26 weeks demonstrated that metrifonate significantly improved the ability of AD patients to perform ADLs when compared with placebo (30-60 mg dose, = 3.03; P = .002; 60/80 mg dose, = 5.25; P = .0002). Metrifonate significantly improved the ability of the AD patients to perform instrumental ADLs, those abilities typically lost first during the disease process (30-60 mg dose, = 3.88, P = .002; 60/80 mg dose, = 5.79, P = .003). Metrifonate also tended to improve, relative to placebo, the ability of AD patients to use three levels of executive skills when performing ADLs: initiation (30-60 mg dose, = 3.45, P = .001; 60/80 mg dose, = 5.44, P = .003), planning/organization (30-60 mg dose, = 4.50, P = .004; 60/80 mg dose, = 4.89, P = .014), and effective execution (30-60 mg dose, = 1.80, P = .076; 60/80 mg dose, = 4.06, P = .030). These results indicate that metrifonate has a beneficial effect on the ADLs in mild-to-moderate AD patients. ( J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2000; 13:9-16).

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