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Article| Volume 27, ISSUE 10, P1133-1142, May 15, 1990

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Short-term effects of the calcium channel blocker nimodipine (Bay-e-9736) in the management of primary degenerative dementia

  • Gary D. Tollefson
    Correspondence
    Address reprint requests to Gary D. Tollefson, M.D., Ph.D., Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center, 640 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101
    Affiliations
    From the Department of Psychiatry, Ramsey Foundation and St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center, St. Paul, MN, USA
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DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(90)90050-C
Short-term effects of the calcium channel blocker nimodipine (Bay-e-9736) in the management of primary degenerative dementia
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      Abstract

      The etiology of Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is unknown, but several neurotransmitters, e.g., acetylcholine, have been implicated. Recently, the group of calcium channel antagonists have been reviewed for their potential neuropsychiatric applications. These agents are capable of enhancing cholinergic tone, neurofilament/microtubular stabilization, and regional perfusion rates. The following is a report of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of 227 AD patients treated with nimodipine, a 1.4 dihydropyridine derivative and calcium channel antagonist. The subgroup receiving active drug (30 mg t.i.d.) experienced a prophylactic benefit across eight measures over 12 treatment weeks when contrasted with the disease progression seen among placebo recipients. Calcium channel blockers as neurotransmitter modulators and/or via calcium's theoretical role in neurofibrillary tangles, proteolysis, or neurofilament formation may represent a therapeutic opportunity for the AD patient.
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      Article info

      Publication history

      Received in revised form: November 29, 1989
      Received: October 2, 1989

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(90)90050-C

      Copyright

      © 1990 Published by Elsevier Inc.

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