title: The ASCOMALVA (Association between the Cholinesterase Inhibitor Donepezil and the Cholinergic Precursor Choline Alphoscerate in Alzheimer's Disease) Trial: interim results after two years of treatment.
abstract: Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChE-Is) are used for symptomatic treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD), but long-term effects of these compounds are mild and not always obvious. Preclinical studies have shown that combination of ChE-Is and the cholinergic precursor choline alphoscerate increases brain acetylcholine levels more effectively than single compounds alone. ASCOMALVA (Effect of association between a ChE-I and choline alphoscerate on cognitive deficits in AD associated with cerebrovascular injury) is a double-blind trial investigating if the ChE-I donepezil and choline alphoscerate in combination are more effective that donepezil alone. The trial has recruited AD patients suffering from ischemic brain damage documented by neuroimaging and has completed 2 years of observation in 113 patients of the 210 planned. Patients were randomly allotted to an active treatment group (donepezil + choline alphoscerate) or to a reference group (donepezil + placebo). Cognitive functions were assessed by the Mini-Mental State Evaluation and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive subscale. Daily activity was evaluated by the basic and instrumental activities of daily living tests. Behavioral symptoms were assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Over the 24-month observation period, patients of the reference group showed a moderate time-dependent worsening in all the parameters investigated. Treatment with donepezil plus choline alphoscerate significantly slowed changes of the different items analyzed. These findings suggest that the combination of choline alphoscerate with a ChE-I may prolong/increase the effectiveness of cholinergic therapies in AD with concomitant ischemic cerebrovascular injury.
authors.affiliation: Centro Ricerche Cliniche, Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della Salute, Università di Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amenta
authors.affiliation: Centro Ricerche Cliniche, Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della Salute, Università di Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carotenuto
authors.affiliation: Unità Valutativa Alzheimer e Malattie Involutive Cerebrali, Azienda Ospedaliera di Rilievo Nazionale A. Cardarelli, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Angiola Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fasanaro
authors.affiliation: Centro Ricerche Cliniche, Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della Salute, Università di Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rea
authors.affiliation: Centro Ricerche Cliniche, Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della Salute, Università di Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: Enea
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Traini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077265:Donepezil; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005997:Glycerylphosphorylcholine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D007189:Indans; D010880:Piperidines; D005997:Glycerylphosphorylcholine; D000077265:Donepezil
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; association; cerebrovascular injury; choline alphoscerate; donepezil