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Treatment Effects of Vortioxetine on Cognitive Functions in Mild Alzheimer’s Disease Patients with Depressive Symptoms: A 12 Month, Open-Label, Observational Study

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Abstract

Background/Objectives

depressive symptoms are common in Alzheimer’s disease(AD). Aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of vortioxetine compared with other conventional antidepressants on cognitive functions in AD patients with depressive symptoms

Design

Prospective, randomized, 12 month, parallel-group study.

Setting

All participants were evaluated on-site at Neurodegenerative Disorders Unit, ASP2 Caltanissetta(Italy).

Participants

108 (71 female, 37 male) AD patients with depression(mean age 76.7± 4.3).

Intervention

Randomized subjects received vortioxetine, 15 mg/day (n=36) or other common antidepressants(n=72).

Measures

primary outcome was change from baseline in the MMSE; secondary outcomes were change in Attentive Matrices, Raven Coloured Progressive Matrices, Digit Span, HAM-D and Cornell scale.

Results

Statistically significant improvement vs. controls was observed for vortioxetine on most of the cognitive tests and showed significantly baseline-to-endpoint reduction in both HAM-D and Cornell total scores.The most commonly reported adverse events were nausea and headache for votioxetine; nausea in the control group.

Conclusions

Vortioxetine had a beneficial effect on cognition and mood in elderly AD patients and was safe and well tolerated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurodegenerative Disorders Unit, ASP 2 Caltanissetta, via L.Monaco 109, Caltanissetta, Italy

    Eduardo Cumbo, S. Cumbo, S. Torregrossa & D. Migliore

Authors
  1. Eduardo Cumbo
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  2. S. Cumbo
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  3. S. Torregrossa
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  4. D. Migliore
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eduardo Cumbo.

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Cumbo, E., Cumbo, S., Torregrossa, S. et al. Treatment Effects of Vortioxetine on Cognitive Functions in Mild Alzheimer’s Disease Patients with Depressive Symptoms: A 12 Month, Open-Label, Observational Study. J Prev Alzheimers Dis 6, 192–197 (2019). https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2019.24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2019.24

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