Clonidine treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
A loss of cortical noradrenergic innervation may contribute to the intellectual deterioration in Alzheimer's disease. To test the hypothesis that noradrenergic replacement may confer symptomatic benefit, a double-blind, placebo-controlled therapeutic trial with clonidine hydrochloride (Catapres), a centrally active noradrenergic receptor agonist, was undertaken in eight patients with the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. No statistically significant changes in cognitive function were found over a range of doses, including those that produced clinically observable side effects. These preliminary results indicate a need for alternative noradrenergic replacement strategies in Alzheimer's disease.
Mohr
E
E
Medical Neurology Branch, National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Schlegel
J
J
Fabbrini
G
G
Williams
J
J
Mouradian
M M
MM
Mann
U M
UM
Claus
J J
JJ
Fedio
P
P
Chase
T N
TN
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003000:Clonidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D003000:Clonidine