Clinical and neurochemical effects of acetyl-L-carnitine in Alzheimer's disease.
In a double-blind, placebo study, acetyl-L-carnitine was administered to 7 probable Alzheimer's disease patients who were then compared by clinical and 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopic measures to 5 placebo-treated probable AD patients and 21 age-matched healthy controls over the course of 1 year. Compared to AD patients on placebo, acetyl-L-carnitine-treated patients showed significantly less deterioration in their Mini-Mental Status and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale test scores. Furthermore, the decrease in phosphomonoester levels observed in both the acetyl-L-carnitine and placebo AD groups at entry was normalized in the acetyl-L-carnitine-treated but not in the placebo-treated patients. Similar normalization of high-energy phosphate levels was observed in the acetyl-L-carnitine-treated but not in the placebo-treated patients. This is the first direct in vivo demonstration of a beneficial effect of a drug on both clinical and CNS neurochemical parameters in AD.
Pettegrew
J W
JW
Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, PA 15213, USA.
Klunk
W E
WE
Panchalingam
K
K
Kanfer
J N
JN
McClure
R J
RJ
D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism
D010710:Phosphates; D010743:Phospholipids; D000108:Acetylcarnitine