Efficacy of tablet huperzine-A on memory, cognition, and behavior in Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tablet huperzine-A (Hup) in patients with Alzheimer's disease.


METHODS
Using multicenter, prospective, double-blind, parallel, placebo controlled and randomized method, 50 patients were administered orally 0.2 mg (4 tablets) Hup and 53 patients were given po 4 tablets of placebo bid for 8 wk. All patients were evaluated with Wechsler memory scale, Hasegawa dementia scale, mini-mental state examination scale, activity of daily living scale, treatment emergency symptom scale, and measured with BP, HR, ECG, EEG, ALT, AKP, BUN, Cr, Hb, WBC, and urine routine.


RESULTS
About 58% (29/50) of patients treated with Hup showed improvements in their memory (P < 0.01), cognitive (P < 0.01), and behavioral (P < 0.01 functions. The efficacy of Hup was better than placebo (36%, 19/53) (P < 0.05). No severe side effect was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Hup is a promising drug for symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Xu
S S
SS
Zhejiang Supervision and Detection Station of Drug Abuse, Zhejiang Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Gao
Z X
ZX
Weng
Z
Z
Du
Z M
ZM
Xu
W A
WA
Yang
J S
JS
Zhang
M L
ML
Tong
Z H
ZH
Fang
Y S
YS
Chai
X S
XS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000470:Alkaloids; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D001519:Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013607:Tablets
D000470:Alkaloids; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013607:Tablets; C050426:huperzine A