Meta-Analysis Finds Memantine Ineffective for Mild AD

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There is no evidence that memantine is effective for mild Alzheimer's disease in the very studies that two manufacturers used to seek approval of the drug for that indication, according to a report published on line in the journal.

In addition, the effect sizes of memantine's "benefit" for moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) are so small in the same studies that the drug's usefulness is questionable in that patient group as well, wrote Dr. Lon S. Schneider of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and his associates.

Memantine is indicated for moderate to severe AD in the United States and Europe, but often is prescribed "off label" for mild AD or even mild cognitive impairment. Research indicates that up to 63% of patients with mild AD receive the drug, and one study showed that "nearly 40% of U.S. neurologists surveyed reported prescribing memantine at least sometimes to patients with mild cognitive impairment," Dr. Schneider and his colleagues noted.