MEMANTAL IN THE TREATMENT OF MODERATE AND SEVERE ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Abstract

Objective: The study objective is to analyze the effectiveness and safety of semi-annual therapy with the use of drug Memantal in patients with moderate and severe dementia cause by Alzheimer's disease. Methods: The study was performed on a group of 30 patients with moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease aged from 55 to 84 y.o. A course of therapy with Memantal was given during 6 months. Treatment began with a dose of 5 mg, followed by an increase of 5 mg to achieve a therapeutic dose of 20 mg/day, 1 time in the morning. Evaluation of the effectiveness of therapy was carried out before the start of treatment and by the end of the 3^rd and 6^th months (MMSE, ADAS-Cog, NPI). The assessment of the impact on caregivers at home was performed according to RUD. Results: A positive effect was achieved in 63.3 % of cases by the end of the course of therapy. A significant improvement in the cognitive functioning of patients compared to the baseline (MMSE and ADAS-Cog) was observed by the end of the first month of the study. Over the next three months, there was a slight increase in the positive effect on cognitive functioning. The dynamics of the indicators of the corresponding points of the NPI/NH scale confirmed that the use of Memantal contributes to a significant reduction in the stress load on caregivers. Conclusions: The study showed that the use of Memantal in the conditions of semi-annual therapy in patients with Alzheimer>s disease at the stage of moderate and severe dementia improves not only cognitive and daily functioning, but also leads to the reduction of a wide range of non-cognitive mental disorders and thereby improves the quality of life of patients.