Abstract
The objective of the observation was to confirm the efficacy and safety of memantine in daily use, to evaluate the burden of caregivers and to compare the efficacy of treatment in the groups of patients with MMSE 6 to 17 points and with MMSE 18 to 19 points. The paper demonstrates results of 6-months open-label observation with memantine 20 mg in outpatients with moderate to severe dementia in Alzheimer's disease.
During the years 2007 to 2009 1001 patients at baseline and 949 (94,8%) at final visit were observed. The results of Mini- -Mental State Examination and Barthel Activities of Daily Living scale rised significantly (improvement), the results of modified Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Clinical Global Impression scale and caregiver's burden scale declined significantly (improvement) during the observation.
The efficacy in all listed variables did not vary in the group with moderate dementia with higher MMSE score of 18 to 19 points from the the study population with MMSE score 6 to 17 points at baseline. Side effects occured very rare and were mild.