A retrospective pilot study on the development of cognitive, behavioral and functional disorders in a sample of patients with early dementia of Alzheimer type.

This pilot study retrospectively analyzes the evolution of cognitive-behavioral symptoms and functional autonomy in a sample of patients with early diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). One hundred patients with early mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were considered and submitted to a multidimensional evaluation: the 53% presented probable AD. These 53 subjects were evaluated for cognitive performance by using the mini mental examination (MMSE), behavioral functions by the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) and functional dependence by the activities of daily living (ADL) and the instrumental ADL (IADL) scales at basal time and after 6-12 months. Results were analyzed according to the duration of therapy with acetyl-cholinesterase inhibitors (ACHEI) and to the timing of the beginning with respect to the diagnosis. AD patients treated with ACHEI at the moment of the diagnosis, showed a statistically significant improvement in MMSE (2.7+/-1.5) after 6 months (p=0.012) which was maintained even after 12 months. Subjects beginning ACHEI at the visit of 6 months showed a statistically worsened MMSE, even after 6 months of therapy (-2.8+/-1.7, p=0.026). We conclude that the timing of administration of ACHEI therapy in mild AD is essential to obtain beneficial effects on cognitive decline.