Meta-analysis of six-month memantine trials in Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND
Clinical trials have suggested benefits of memantine for all stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A meta-analysis of memantine trials in outpatients with probable AD was conducted.


METHODS
Six randomized, placebo-controlled trials fulfilled inclusion criteria. Cognitive, global, functional, behavioral, and safety measures were evaluated by using fixed or random effects models. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine potential effects of disease severity and concomitant cholinesterase inhibitor use.


RESULTS
Overall, memantine showed statistically significant, homogenous benefits on global and functional outcomes and statistically significant but heterogeneous benefit on cognition. In pooled moderate to severe AD studies, effects were significant and homogeneous on global, functional, and behavioral measures; in pooled mild to moderate studies, significant and homogeneous effects were found on global rating and cognition. Safety profiles suggested excellent safety and tolerability, with no differences between the severity groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Memantine consistently benefited patients in all stages of AD and was well-tolerated.
Doody
Rachelle Smith
RS
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. rdoody@bcm.tmc.edu
Tariot
Pierre N
PN
Pfeiffer
Eric
E
Olin
Jason T
JT
Graham
Stephen M
SM