Efficacy and safety of memantine in patients with mild to moderate vascular dementia: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial (MMM 300).

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

Based on the hypothesis of glutamate-induced neurotoxicity (excitotoxicity) in cerebral ischemia, this study examined the efficacy and tolerability of memantine, an uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist, in the treatment of mild to moderate vascular dementia.

METHODS:

In this multicenter, 28-week trial carried out in France, 321 patients received 10 mg/d memantine or placebo twice a day; 288 patients were valid for intent-to-treat analysis. Patients had to meet the criteria for probable vascular dementia and have a Mini-Mental State (MMSE) score between 12 and 20 at inclusion. The 2 primary end points were the cognitive subscale of the Alzheimers Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog) and the global Clinician's Interview Based Impression of Change (CIBIC-plus).

RESULTS:

After 28 weeks, the mean ADAS-cog scores were significantly improved relative to placebo. In the intention-to-treat population, the memantine group mean score had gained an average of 0.4 points, whereas the placebo group mean score had declined by 1.6 points, ie, a difference of 2.0 points (95% confidence interval, 0.49 to 3.60). The response rate for CIBIC-plus, defined as improved or stable, was 60% with memantine compared with 52% with placebo (P=0.227, intention to treat). Among the secondary efficacy parameters, which were analyzed in the per-protocol subset, MMSE was significantly improved with memantine compared with deterioration with placebo (P=0.003). The Gottfries-Brane-Steen Scale intellectual function subscore and the Nurses' Observation Scale for Geriatric Patients disturbing behavior dimension also showed differences in favor of memantine (P=0.04 and P=0.07, respectively). Memantine was well tolerated with a frequency of adverse events comparable to placebo.

CONCLUSIONS:

In patients with mild to moderate vascular dementia, memantine 20 mg/d improved cognition consistently across different cognitive scales, with at least no deterioration in global functioning and behavior. It was devoid of concerning side effects.

• Authors: Jean-Marc Orgogozo, Anne-Sophie Rigaud, Albrecht Stöffler, Hans-Jorgen Möbius, Françoise Forette
• Journal: Stroke (Stroke) Vol. 33 Issue 7 Pg. 1834-9 (Jul 2002) ISSN: 1524-4628 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 12105362 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Clinical Trial, Phase III, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Dopamine Agents
• N-Methylaspartate
• Memantine

Topics

• Aged
• Cognition (drug effects)
• Dementia, Vascular (drug therapy)
• Disease Progression
• Dizziness (etiology)
• Dopamine Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• France
• Humans
• Male
• Memantine (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• N-Methylaspartate (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Neuropsychological Tests
• Treatment Outcome