MAGD Trial-Memantine for Agitation in Alzheimer’s Dementia

Dementia is increasing with current global level of 35 million people (AD International 2010). Behavioural disturbance is common with prevalence levels of 20-80% according to setting and stage of disease (Ballard et al 2009). Agitation and aggression are two of the most problematic. Non medication approaches are first line and have efficacy but medication may still have to be used. Medication has very limited evidence of efficacy e.g.cholinesterase inhibitors (Howard et al 2008) or potential harm e.g. antipsychotics (Ballard et al 2009). The Memantine cochrane reported agitation/aggression, irritability/lability and psychosis possibly reduced.

OBJECTIVE: Does memantine improve agitation in dementia

DESIGN: Double blind randomized placebo controlled trial

SETTING: Nursing Homes

PARTICIPANTS: 153 patients with Alzheimer’s dementia

INTERVENTION: Memantine vs placebo

MEASUREMENTS: Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory

(CMAI), Neuro-Psychiatric Inventory (NPI), Severe Impairment

Battery (SIB), Quality of Life-AD (QOL-AD)