A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of memantine in age-associated memory impairment (memantine in AAMI).
OBJECTIVE
To determine the safety and efficacy of memantine in treating Age-Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI).


METHODS
Sixty adults between 50-79 years of age meeting diagnostic requirements for AAMI were randomly assigned to either memantine (titrated to 20 mg) or a matched placebo and treated for 90 days. An extensive battery of computerized cognitive tests was administered at screening, baseline and, thereafter, at monthly intervals.


CONCLUSIONS
Study results suggest that the primary cognitive effects of memantine in this population are on attention and information processing speed, rather than on memory. There were no differences in adverse events between memantine and placebo.
Ferris
Steven
S
Alzheimer's Disease Center, Silberstein Institute, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. steven.ferris@med.nyu.edu
Schneider
Lon
L
Farmer
Mildred
M
Kay
Gary
G
Crook
Thomas
T
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000647:Amnesia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D008559:Memantine