[Akatinol memantine in patients with vascular cognitive disorders]

Treatment of cognitive disorders developed in cerebrovascular pathology is an actual medical problem. Of great importance is the timed diagnosis of these changes in the earlier phases of the development of cognitive deficit as well as adequate therapy that can delay and prevent the development of such complication as dementia. Pathogenetic mechanisms of cognitive disorders are associated with brain vascular and neurodegenerative changes that determine using drugs with vasoactive, metabolic and/or neuromediator effects. Memantine (the active component of akatinol memantine) is a drug that exerts an effect on the glutamatergic system, a non competitive antagonist of NMDA-receptors. The results of studies on the efficacy of this drug in moderate cognitive disorders are inconsistent and the amount of research is small. The present study aimed at the evaluation of changes of neuropsychological parameters in patients with moderate cognitive impairment caused by cerebrovascular pathology who were treated with memantine compared to the control group. Results of randomized open study suggested a significant clinical efficacy of akatinol memantine in the treatment of patients with vascular cognitive disorders. The treatment with akatinol memantine in dose 20 mg/day (10 mg twice a day) during six months significantly reduced cognitive deficit. The most distinct dynamics was related with ideation praxis, visual-spatial and speech functions, word selection, storage of instructions, increasing of volume of audio-speech and visual memory.