title: The effects of galantamine treatment on attention and its relationship with cognition and activities of daily living in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The positive effects of galantamine on cognition and activities of daily living (ADL) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are thought to be mediated via improvements in attention. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of galantamine on attention in AD patients using a computerized attention test and to elucidate the relationship between improvements in attention and change in cognition and ADL.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this multicenter, open-label, prospective study, patients with mild to moderate AD received galantamine and then submitted to computerized attention tests, the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale, and instrumental ADL (IADL) at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks. The differences in reaction time on computerized tests were explored relative to the changes in cognition and IADL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 weeks of taking the trial medication there was a significant reduction from baseline levels in the choice reaction time (baseline, 5,216±3,650 sec; 12 weeks, 4,139±2,920 sec; p<0.01) and the simple reaction time (baseline, 1,089±782 sec; 12 weeks, 908±606 sec; p<0.01). Correlation analyses of changes in choice or simple reaction times relative to cognition and ADL measures yielded no significant associations. The improvement in attention observed at 4 weeks of galantamine treatment was not associated with any significant changes in outcome measures at the end of trial.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found no significant association between the improvement in attention after treatment with galantamine and changes in cognition and ADL in patients with mild to moderate AD, despite the significant improvement in attention over the course of the treatment.
authors: Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jae-Hong
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Neurology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yun Jeong
authors: YJ
authors: Hong
authors: Department of Neurology, Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors: Hee-Joon
authors: HJ
authors: Bae
authors: Department of Neurology, Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors: Beom Joon
authors: BJ
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Duk-Lyul
authors: DL
authors: Na
authors: Department of Neurology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Seol-Heui
authors: SH
authors: Han
authors: Department of Neurology, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jong-Moo
authors: JM
authors: Park
authors: Department of Neurology, Ehwa Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jee-Hyang
authors: JH
authors: Jeong
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kyung-Ryeol
authors: KR
authors: Cha
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; attention; computerized test; galantamine
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