title: [Cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. A follow three or more years of a sample of patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The rates of cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease show variations due to various factors. AIM. To determine the influence of age, education, gender, activities of daily living (ADL) and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (IAChE) and memantine in the rhythm and rate of cognitive decline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of a sample of 383 patients with Alzheimer's disease, with neuropsychological assessments over three years. Cognitive measure was used as the Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG). Patients were grouped according to their rate of annual decline (RAD) and performed a bivariate and multivariate regression analysis using as dependent variable the difference in scores on the CAMCOG (baseline-final).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The younger age (beta = -0.23; p < 0.001), more educated (beta = 0.26; p < 0.001) and the greater deterioration of ADL (beta = 0.24; p < 0.001) were associated with a greater decline in all patients. The drugs had a beneficial effect (beta = -0.18; p = 0.011) in the group with lower and slower decline (RAD < 5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lower age, higher education and the deterioration of ADL are associated with a greater cognitive decline. The IAChE and memantine had a beneficial effect, slowing the decline in the group of patients with lower RAD.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Psicologia, Universidad de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Espana. jllconde@ub.edu
authors.forename: Josep Lluís
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Conde-Sala
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garre-Olmo
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vilalta-Franch
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Llinàs-Reglà
authors.forename: Oriol
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Turró-Garriga
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lozano-Gallego
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández-Ferràndiz
authors.forename: Imma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pericot-Nierga
authors.forename: Secundino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: López-Pousa
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008559:Memantine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D008559:Memantine