Long-term efficacy and safety of galantamine in outpatients with mild cognitive disorder

Background

Galantamine is a reversible, competitive cholinesterasa inhibitor that also allosterically modulates nicotine acetylcholine receptors. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for hydrolisis of acetylcholine at the cholinergic cognitive impairment. To evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of galantamine in long-term in Mild Cognitive Disorder.

Materials and methods

A multicenter, open label, prospective, observational study enrolled 800 patients, more 50 years old with Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (DSM IV criteria), during 24 months of treatment with galantamine 16 mg./day. Assessments included the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-GOG), Seven minutes test, Wiscosin card sorting test, Boston naming test, Token test, Raven Test, Brow-Peterson test, Trail making test, Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ), GO-NO-GO test, Global Deterioration Scale, Global Clinical Impression (GCI) and UKU scale of Adverse Effects.

Results

A total 800 outpatients were treated with 16 mg./day galantamine during 24 months, the therapeutic response evaluated with CDR, MMSE and the tests and scales of function cognitive measuring, GCI and UKU scale of adverse effects, comparing the baseline to final scores.

Conclusions

Mild Cognitive Disorder is being examined, so there aren't enought treatment for this. A long-term treatment (24 months) galantamine improves cognition and global function, behavioural symptoms and the general state well being of patients with Mild cognitive Disorder. With incidence of adverse effects not significant and a very good profile of safety, the final results of the study suggest that galantamine may be particularly appropiate in the Mild Cognitive Disorder.