Related Experiment Videos
D-cycloserine for Alzheimer's disease
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Ullevaal Hospital, Kirkevn. 166, Oslo, Norway. Knut.Laake@ioks.uio.no
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|June 22, 2002
Summary
D-cycloserine does not improve cognitive outcomes in Alzheimer's disease patients. Higher doses of D-cycloserine were associated with increased patient withdrawals compared to placebo.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- NMDA receptors play a crucial role in learning and memory.
- D-cycloserine modulates NMDA receptors by enhancing glutamate's effect.
- Previous studies suggested potential benefits of D-cycloserine in cognitive function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of D-cycloserine in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.
- To determine if D-cycloserine offers a therapeutic benefit for AD.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, double-blinded, controlled trials.
- Searched for trials comparing D-cycloserine with placebo.
- Primary outcome measure was the Clinical Global Impression scale.
Main Results:
- No positive effect of D-cycloserine on cognitive improvement was observed at any dose.
- Increased patient withdrawals were noted with D-cycloserine (30 mg/day and 100 mg/day) compared to placebo.
- No significant difference in adverse event-related withdrawals between D-cycloserine and placebo.
Conclusions:
- D-cycloserine demonstrated no efficacy in improving cognitive outcomes for Alzheimer's disease patients.
- The current evidence indicates D-cycloserine is not suitable for treating Alzheimer's disease.
- Further research is needed to explore alternative therapeutic strategies for AD.