Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders

Review Article

Free Access

Memantine Therapy of Behavioral Symptoms in Community-Dwelling Patients with Moderate to Severe Alzheimer’s Disease

Grossberg G.T.a · Pejović V.b · Miller M.L.b · Graham S.M.c

Author affiliations

aDepartment of Neurology and Psychiatry, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo., bPrescottMedical Communications Group, Chicago, Ill., and cForest Research Institute, Jersey City, N.J., USA

Corresponding Author

George T. Grossberg, MD

Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Saint Louis University School of Medicine

1438 South Grand Boulevard

St. Louis, MO 63104 (USA)

Tel. +1 314 977 4829, Fax +1 314 977 4878, E-Mail grossbgt@slu.edu

Keywords: MemantineAlzheimer’s diseaseBehavioral disturbancesAgitationAggressionAntipsychotics

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Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2009;27:164–172
https://doi.org/10.1159/000200013

Abstract

Memantine is a moderate-affinity, uncompetitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, approved for the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Available data suggest that, in addition to its benefits on cognition, function, and global status, memantine treatment may also help alleviate behavioral symptoms. This article provides an overview of the prevalence, assessment, and treatment of behavioral disturbances in AD, and summarizes current knowledge regarding the effects of memantine on the behavior of community-dwelling patients. We searched EMBASE and PubMed (January 1992 to October 2008) for reports on memantine trials that involved outpatients with moderate to severe AD. All previously unpublished data were obtained from Forest Laboratories, Inc. Behavioral outcomes were assessed in three completed, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.Overall, patients who received memantine performed better on behavioral measures than those treated with placebo. Post-hoc analyses suggest that memantine treatment was associated with a reduced severity or emergence of specific symptoms, particularly agitation and aggression. Prospective, well-designed trials are warranted to evaluate the efficacy of memantine in patients with significant behavioral symptoms.

© 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel



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Article / Publication Details

First-Page Preview
Abstract of Review Article

Accepted: December 16, 2008
Published online: February 05, 2009
Issue release date: March 2009

Number of Print Pages: 9
Number of Figures: 0
Number of Tables: 2

ISSN: 1420-8008 (Print)
eISSN: 1421-9824 (Online)

For additional information: https://www.karger.com/DEM

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