Lipitor as a Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease

NCT ID: NCT00024531

Last Updated: 2006-11-09

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

98 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2000-10-31

Study Completion Date

2004-08-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to assess the clinical benefit of Lipitor, a cholesterol-lowering drug, in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Detailed Description

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This study is a phase II, placebo controlled, double-blind, one year trial investigating the effect of HmG-CoA reductase inhibitor atorvastatin calcium in the treatment of persons with possible or probable Alzheimer's disease. Subjects may continue to take stable doses of Aricept and Exelon. Following enrollment, participants will make visits to the study center every three months for blood tests and neuropsychological testing.

Conditions

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Alzheimer Disease

Keywords

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Alzheimer disease Cholesterol-lowering drugs

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Interventions

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Atorvastatin calcium

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Prior to participation in this study, each prospective study individual must sign an informed consent form.
* Diagnosis of probable or possible Alzheimer's disease according to NINDS-ADRDA and DSM-IV criteria.
* Not actively participating in another clinical drug trial.
* MMSE range 12-28 at entry.
* Hachinski Modified Ischemic score \< or =4.
* Accompanied by appropriate caregiver who can aid in administration of medication and make assessments.
* Good general health as evidenced by physical, neurological and clinical laboratory examination.
* Education level \> or = 9th grade or equivalent.
* Fluent in the English language.
* Reliable caregiver.
* Able to complete neuropsychological tests.
* Ambulatory.
* On stable doses of medications for the treatment of non-excluded medical conditions for four weeks prior to screening.
* Able to participate in all scheduled evaluations.
* Geriatric Depression Scale \< or = 20.
* Not exceeding 400 IU of Vitamin E for 30 days.
* For patients currently taking donepezil, they must remain on a stable dose for at least three months. Individuals taking stable doses of other cholinesterase inhibitors can be included, but no study subject may initiate use of any cholinesterase inhibitor after entrance to trial.
* Individuals of both sexes over 50 years of age will be eligible.

Exclusion Criteria

* Significant neurological or psychiatric disease other than Alzheimer's disease.
* Patients with known or suspected Parkinsons's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies.
* Significant systemic illness (including uncontrolled hypertension) or organ failure.
* History of mental illness within one year or history of significant untreated cardiac or thromboembolic vascular disease (arrythmias, unstable angina, CVA, deep venous thrombosis, or pulmonary embolus).
* Current chronic use of anti-cholinergic medications (anti-histamines, and Artane or Cogentin). Stable doses of anxiolytics, sedatives, hypnotics, antipsychotics and SSRI antidepressants are acceptable. The use of any antipsychotics or tricyclic anti-depressants must be reviewed prior to entry.
* Diagnosis of major depression according to DSM-IV criteria in the last two years.
* Allergies to atorvastatin or HMG CoA reductase inhibitors.
* Pregnant women.
* History of head injury.
* On a cholesterol lowering drug at time of enrollment.
* History of significant liver disease and or elevated transaminases.
* Cholesterol level lower than 90 mg% at initial screening
Minimum Eligible Age

50 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Pfizer

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

Institute for the Study of Aging (ISOA)

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Principal Investigators

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David L Sparks, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Sun Health Research Institute

Locations

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Sun Health Research Institute

Sun City, Arizona, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Sparks DL. Intraneuronal beta-amyloid immunoreactivity in the CNS. Neurobiol Aging. 1996 Mar-Apr;17(2):291-9. doi: 10.1016/0197-4580(95)02067-5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8744411 (View on PubMed)

Sparks DL. Coronary artery disease, hypertension, ApoE, and cholesterol: a link to Alzheimer's disease? Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1997 Sep 26;826:128-46. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1997.tb48466.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9329686 (View on PubMed)

Sparks DL, Martin TA, Gross DR, Hunsaker JC 3rd. Link between heart disease, cholesterol, and Alzheimer's disease: a review. Microsc Res Tech. 2000 Aug 15;50(4):287-90. doi: 10.1002/1097-0029(20000815)50:43.0.CO;2-L.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10936882 (View on PubMed)

Sparks DL, Lopez J, Connor D, Sabbagh M, Seward J, Browne P; Alzheimer's Disease Cholesterol-Lowering Treatment Team. A position paper: based on observational data indicating an increased rate of altered blood chemistry requiring withdrawal from the Alzheimer's Disease Cholesterol-Lowering Treatment Trial (ADCLT). J Mol Neurosci. 2003;20(3):407-10. doi: 10.1385/JMN:20:3:407.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 14501025 (View on PubMed)

Sparks DL, Connor DJ, Browne P, Sabbagh MN; AD Cholesterol-Lowering Treatment Trial Team. Should the guidelines for monitoring serum cholesterol levels in the elderly be re-evaluated? J Mol Neurosci. 2002 Aug-Oct;19(1-2):209-12. doi: 10.1007/s12031-002-0035-1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12212783 (View on PubMed)

Sparks DL, Sabbagh MN, Connor DJ, Lopez J, Launer LJ, Browne P, Wasser D, Johnson-Traver S, Lochhead J, Ziolwolski C. Atorvastatin for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer disease: preliminary results. Arch Neurol. 2005 May;62(5):753-7. doi: 10.1001/archneur.62.5.753.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 15883262 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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IA0031

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id