Selegiline in treatment of behavioral and cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer disease

• Published in: The Annals of pharmacotherapy Vol. 30; no. 10; p. 1122
• Main Authors: Tolbert, S R, Fuller, M A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.1996
• Subjects: Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease - psychology; Behavior - drug effects; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cognition - drug effects; Humans; Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Selegiline - pharmacology; Selegiline - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 1060-0280
• DOI: 10.1177/106002809603001012

To evaluate the effects of selegiline on behavioral and cognitive symptoms of patients with Alzheimer disease. An English-language MEDLINE search (1982-1995) was used to identify the review articles and human clinical trials discussed in this article. Double- and single-blind and open-label trials were reviewed. Studies were also reviewed if selegiline was evaluated comparatively with other agents. Review articles were used for background information. Data were evaluated from human studies. Studies were critiqued on the basis of design, methodology, duration, sample size, and the degree to which neuropsychological tests used in each study were compared. Selegiline is a selective, irreversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type B. Eight of 11 controlled trials showed selegiline had a positive effect on cognition (e.g., word fluency, delayed recall, total recall). Two of 5 controlled trials evaluating selegiline's effect on behavior (e.g., anxiety, tension, excitement, depression) showed a positive effect. The role of selegiline remains to be determined by large well-controlled long-term clinical trials. Selegiline may be a useful agent in managing behavioral and cognitive symptomatology associated with Alzheimer disease. Given that the management of Alzheimer disease is symptomatic and no standard treatment exists, selegiline should be considered among the various options.