Open AccessUsing Biomarkers to Predict Memantine Effects in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Proposal and Proof-Of-Concept Demonstration
Author(s) -
Neal R. Swerdlow,
J Kotz,
Yash B. Joshi,
Jo Talledo,
Joyce Sprock,
Juan L. Molina,
Branko Huisa,
Steven Huege,
Jairo Alberto Romero,
Michael J. Walsh,
Lisa DelanoWood,
Gregory A. Light
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of alzheimer's disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.677
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1875-8908
pISSN - 1387-2877
DOI - 10.3233/jad-215029
Subject(s) - memantine , placebo , clinical trial , medicine , psychology , disease , pharmacology , dementia , pathology , alternative medicine
Memantine's benefits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are modest and heterogeneous. We tested the feasibility of using sensitivity to acute memantine challenge to predict an individual's clinical response. Eight participants completed a double-blind challenge study of memantine (placebo versus 20 mg) effects on autonomic, subjective, cognitive, and neurophysiological measures, followed by a 24-week unblinded active-dose therapeutic trial (10 mg bid). Study participation was well tolerated. Subgroups based on memantine sensitivity on specific laboratory measures differed in their clinical response to memantine, some by large effect sizes. It appears feasible to use biomarkers to predict clinical sensitivity to memantine.