title: Raloxifene for women with Alzheimer disease: A randomized controlled pilot trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, improves cognitive function compared with placebo in women with Alzheimer disease (AD) and to provide an estimate of cognitive effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  This pilot study was conducted as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, with a planned treatment of 12 months. Women with late-onset AD of mild to moderate severity were randomly allocated to high-dose (120 mg) oral raloxifene or identical placebo provided once daily. The primary outcome compared between treatment groups at 12 months was change in the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale, cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two women randomized to raloxifene or placebo were included in intent-to-treat analyses (mean age 76 years, range 68-84), and 39 women contributed 12-month outcomes. ADAS-cog change scores at 12 months did not differ significantly between treatment groups (standardized difference 0.03, 95% confidence interval -0.39 to 0.44, 2-tailed p = 0.89). Raloxifene and placebo groups did not differ significantly on secondary analyses of dementia rating, activities of daily living, behavior, or a global cognition composite score. Caregiver burden and caregiver distress were similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results on the primary outcome showed no cognitive benefits in the raloxifene-treated group.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study provides Class I evidence that for women with AD, raloxifene does not have a significant cognitive effect. The study lacked the precision to exclude a small effect.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Health Research and Policy (Epidemiology) (V.W.H., K.L.S.), Neurology and Neurological Sciences (V.W.H.), and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (A.C.R.), Stanford University, CA; Department of Neurology (T.A.), Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield; Neurology (A.L.B.) and Family Medicine (B.S.S.) Departments, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, CA; Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System (A.C.R.), CA; and Department of Neurology (M.R.F.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. A.L.B. is currently affiliated with Sonoma West Medical Center, Sebastopol, CA. vhenderson@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Victor W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Health Research and Policy (Epidemiology) (V.W.H., K.L.S.), Neurology and Neurological Sciences (V.W.H.), and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (A.C.R.), Stanford University, CA; Department of Neurology (T.A.), Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield; Neurology (A.L.B.) and Family Medicine (B.S.S.) Departments, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, CA; Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System (A.C.R.), CA; and Department of Neurology (M.R.F.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. A.L.B. is currently affiliated with Sonoma West Medical Center, Sebastopol, CA.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ala
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Health Research and Policy (Epidemiology) (V.W.H., K.L.S.), Neurology and Neurological Sciences (V.W.H.), and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (A.C.R.), Stanford University, CA; Department of Neurology (T.A.), Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield; Neurology (A.L.B.) and Family Medicine (B.S.S.) Departments, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, CA; Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System (A.C.R.), CA; and Department of Neurology (M.R.F.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. A.L.B. is currently affiliated with Sonoma West Medical Center, Sebastopol, CA.
authors.forename: Kristin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Sainani
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Health Research and Policy (Epidemiology) (V.W.H., K.L.S.), Neurology and Neurological Sciences (V.W.H.), and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (A.C.R.), Stanford University, CA; Department of Neurology (T.A.), Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield; Neurology (A.L.B.) and Family Medicine (B.S.S.) Departments, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, CA; Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System (A.C.R.), CA; and Department of Neurology (M.R.F.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. A.L.B. is currently affiliated with Sonoma West Medical Center, Sebastopol, CA.
authors.forename: Allan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Health Research and Policy (Epidemiology) (V.W.H., K.L.S.), Neurology and Neurological Sciences (V.W.H.), and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (A.C.R.), Stanford University, CA; Department of Neurology (T.A.), Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield; Neurology (A.L.B.) and Family Medicine (B.S.S.) Departments, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, CA; Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System (A.C.R.), CA; and Department of Neurology (M.R.F.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. A.L.B. is currently affiliated with Sonoma West Medical Center, Sebastopol, CA.
authors.forename: B Sue
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Health Research and Policy (Epidemiology) (V.W.H., K.L.S.), Neurology and Neurological Sciences (V.W.H.), and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (A.C.R.), Stanford University, CA; Department of Neurology (T.A.), Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield; Neurology (A.L.B.) and Family Medicine (B.S.S.) Departments, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, CA; Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System (A.C.R.), CA; and Department of Neurology (M.R.F.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. A.L.B. is currently affiliated with Sonoma West Medical Center, Sebastopol, CA.
authors.forename: Allyson C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Health Research and Policy (Epidemiology) (V.W.H., K.L.S.), Neurology and Neurological Sciences (V.W.H.), and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (A.C.R.), Stanford University, CA; Department of Neurology (T.A.), Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield; Neurology (A.L.B.) and Family Medicine (B.S.S.) Departments, Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center, CA; Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Health Care System (A.C.R.), CA; and Department of Neurology (M.R.F.), Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. A.L.B. is currently affiliated with Sonoma West Medical Center, Sebastopol, CA.
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Farlow
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride