Key result
Cholinergic drugs and cognitive training improved cognitive performance during the first year, but all groups deteriorated over the 2-year follow-up, with faster decline in untreated patients.
Why the study?
Do cholinergic drugs and/or cognitive training improve cognitive function in subjects with mild Alzheimer's disease over a 2-year period?
Cohort (n=68)
Do cholinergic drugs and/or cognitive training improve cognitive function in subjects with mild Alzheimer's disease over a 2-year period?
Pharmacological and cognitive treatments for mild Alzheimer's disease improve performance in the first year and slow progression compared to no treatment, but do not halt cognitive deterioration over a 2-year period.
May support initial cholinergic drugs or training in mild AD; extends short-term benefit data while leaving long-term efficacy open.
Several studies have shown that pharmacological and cognitive treatments for Alzheimers's disease improve cognitive function for short periods, but fewer studies have evaluated the efficacy of those treatments for longer (2-year) periods. An initial sample of 68 subjects with mild Alzheimer's disease underwent clinical and cognitive evaluation. After evaluation, subjects were assigned to four different groups and participated in a 2-year follow-up study. Group 1 (n = 14) received combined drug and cognitive stimulation, group 2 (n = 20) received only drug treatment, group 3 (n = 14) received only cognitive stimulation, and group 4 (n = 30) received no treatment at all. Results confirmed previous investigation, cognitive and combined stimulation improved patients' performance throughout the 1st year; however, all groups deteriorated gradually throughout the 2nd year of treatment. According to this evidence, it can be concluded that we cannot stop cognitive deterioration after 2 years of treatment, although deterioration is greater and its progress faster in patients not receiving any treatment at all.
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Hernández et al. (2006) conducted a cohort in Mild Alzheimer's disease (n=68). Cholinergic drugs and cognitive stimulation vs. No treatment was evaluated on Cognitive performance and deterioration. Cholinergic drugs and cognitive training improved cognitive performance during the first year, but all groups deteriorated over the 2-year follow-up, with faster decline in untreated patients.
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