Meta-analysis of six-month memantine trials in Alzheimer’s disease
Refers to article:
Commentary on “Meta-analysis of six-month memantine trials in Alzheimer’s disease.” Wuthering forest plots: Distinguishing the forest from the plots
Lon S. Schneider
Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association
January 2007 (Vol. 3, Issue 1, Pages 18-20) Full Text |
Full-Text PDF (85 KB)
Commentary on “Meta-analysis of six-month memantine trials in Alzheimer’s disease.” Memantine has negligible benefits in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease
David S. Knopman
Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association
January 2007 (Vol. 3, Issue 1, Pages 21-22) Full Text |
Full-Text PDF (70 KB)
Abstract
Background
Clinical trials have suggested benefits of memantine for all stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A meta-analysis of memantine trials in outpatients with probable AD was conducted.
Methods
Six randomized, placebo-controlled trials fulfilled inclusion criteria. Cognitive, global, functional, behavioral, and safety measures were evaluated by using fixed or random effects models. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine potential effects of disease severity and concomitant cholinesterase inhibitor use.
Results
Overall, memantine showed statistically significant, homogenous benefits on global and functional outcomes and statistically significant but heterogeneous benefit on cognition. In pooled moderate to severe AD studies, effects were significant and homogeneous on global, functional, and behavioral measures; in pooled mild to moderate studies, significant and homogeneous effects were found on global rating and cognition. Safety profiles suggested excellent safety and tolerability, with no differences between the severity groups.
Conclusions
Memantine consistently benefited patients in all stages of AD and was well-tolerated.
Editor’s Note: Two commentaries on this article by Schneider and Knopman follow on pages 18–22. These commentaries describe and discuss a number of points of disagreement with this article, including its contention that memantine has beneficial effects on all stages of the disease. The Journal encourages readers to contribute to this discussion.
ABSTRACT