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Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, accounting for two-thirds of the dementia cases in people aged 65 or older⁽¹⁾. The global prevalence of dementia is reported to be as high as 24 million and is predicted to increase by four times by 2050⁽²⁾. The incidence of this disease doubles every five years, after the age of 65⁽²⁾. Also, age-specific incidence increases significantly from less than 1% per year before 65 years old to 6% per year after 85 years old^(1,2). This pathology is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States of America, and the deaths reported to be due to Alzheimer’s disease have increased with 146% between 2000 and 2018⁽²⁾. As the world population grows older, the burden of aging for patients diagnosed with AD also increases^(1,2). The estimated healthcare costs of AD is $172 billion per year in the US⁽²⁾.

According to a meta-analysis conducted by S. ­Gauthier et al.⁽³⁾ that included six RCTs, Cerebrolysin^® was significantly more effective than placebo in patients with mild-to-moderate AD: at 4 weeks regarding cognitive function (p=0.0031), but some positive effects were detected even at 6 months (p=0.1710); at 4 weeks and 6 months regarding global clinical change (p=0.0212 and p=0.0150, respectively); at 4 weeks and at 6 months regarding the “global benefit” (combined efficacy criteria; p=0.0006 and p=0010); and the safety aspects of Cerebrolysin® were comparable to placebo.

These results support the conclusions of a previous meta-analysis, conducted by Z.H. Wei (2007), which showed that 30 ml of Cerebrolysin® (daily, on five consecutive days of each weeks) for 4 weeks led to a significant improvement of the clinical global impression in patients with mild-to-moderate AD⁽⁴⁾.

In a transgenic model of AD (mice overexpres­sing the human amyloid precursor protein – hAPP), Cerebrolysin® reduced the synaptic and behavioral deficits⁽⁵⁾. The neuroprotective effects of Cerebrolysin® may involve:

• the signaling regulation

• the control of APP metabolism

• the expression of neurotrophic factors⁽⁵⁾.

According to this AD transgenic model of mice with hAPP treated with Cerebrolysin^®, the levels of pro-nerve growth factor (NGF) were increased in animals treated with Cerebrolysin®. Increased NGF immunoreactivity was detected in the hippocampus of Cerebrolysin®-treated hAPP transgenic mice, and the treatment with Cerebrolysin^® decreased the cholinergic deficits in the nucleus basalis⁽⁵⁾.

A combination of treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors and Cerebrolysin® revealed long-term synergistic treatment effects in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer dementia⁽⁶⁾. The efficacy of Cerebrolysin^® persisted for up to several months after the treatment, suggesting that Cerebrolysin® has not only symptomatic benefits, but a disease-delaying potential⁽⁶⁾.

Cerebrolysin® – but not donepezil – increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) at week 16, while their combination enhanced it at both week 16 and week 28 in mild-to-moderate AD patients⁽⁷⁾. BDNF increased more in apolipoprotein E epsilon-4 allele carriers, and a synergistic action of Cerebrolysin® and donepezil to increase serum BDNF and cognitive perfomance – particularly in AD cases with apolipoprotein E epsilon-4 allele – was also reported⁽⁷⁾.

Case presentation

A 66-year old female patient, diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder due to AD (probable), according to the DSM-5 criteria⁽⁸⁾, was evaluated for treatment initiation.

Memory, complex attention, executive function and learning impairments were detected by caregivers during the last two years, and they were confirmed by repeated neuropsychological testing (MMSE, ADAS-Cog). The cognitive decline was described by family members as steadily progressive.

The native brain MRI showed cortical atrophy in temporal and parietal lobes.

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε3/ε4, which is associated with an increased risk for AD (2-3 times higher than in general population) and lower age at onset, was detected in this patient.

Technetium (⁹⁹Tc)-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) – single-photon emission computed tomo­graphy (SPECT) showed hypoperfusion in temporal, parietal and occipital areas (Figure 1).

On the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog), low scores were found on the following tasks:

• naming objects and fingers (3 out of 4)

• word recall (4 out of 10)

• constructional praxis (4 out of 5)

• word recognition (7 out of 12)

• word finding difficulties (3 out of 5)

• remembering test instructions (3 out of 5)

• concentration/distractibility (3 out of 5)

• maze task/executive function (>240 s)

• number cancellation task (three items).

The neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) detected high scores on:

• anxiety

• irritability

• nighttime behaviors (severity and distress were ≥2 and ≥3, respectively).

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score was 17.

The Clock Drawing Test (CDT) was completed as shown above (Figure 2).

The item referring to the ability of copying two intersecting pentagons within the MMSE is represented in Figure 3.
 

The treatment was initiated with:

• rivastagmine patch 4.6 mg/day 30 days, then 9.5 mg/day;

• Cerebrolysin® f 10 ml 3 f/day 10 days/month for three months;

• trazodone 25 mg/day at bedtime, with increments to 50 mg/day after two days, and 75 mg/day after that;

• memantine was added after one month with 5 mg/day for seven days, with gradual increments up to 20 mg/day.

The patient was monitored by the administration of ADAS-Cog, MMSE, Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), and NPI. The evolution of the MMSE and GAF scores is represented in Figure 4.
 

Discussion

The patient was diagnosed after at least two years from the AD onset, based on caregivers’ reports and the gradual decline performance in her daily activities. The patients had an ε4 allele, which is associated with lower age on AD onset, which seems to be the case here.

Cerebrolysin® was associated with a combination of cholinesterase inhibitor + memantine, and trazodone was added for nighttime agitation.

The monitoring of the global functioning and cognitive performance was initiated every four weeks, and it reflected a stabilization of the clinical and cognitive status.

Cerebrolysin® was well tolerated during the 12-week monitoring, without significant adverse events.

Cerebrolysin® was administered together with other nootropics, which is possible without any risk of CYP 450 interactions.

The administered dose of Cerebrolysin® was 30 ml/day for 10 days monthly, during three consecutive months.

Disclaimer

D.V. was speaker for AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, CSC Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly, Janssen Cilag, Lundbeck, Organon, Pfizer, Servier, Sanofi Aventis, and participated in clinical research funded by Janssen Cilag, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Sanofi Aventis, Schering Plough, Organon, Bioline Rx, Forenap, Wyeth, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Dainippon Sumitomo, Servier, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, and Ebewe. O.V. was speaker for Servier, Eli Lilly and Bristol-Myers, and participated in clinical trials funded by Janssen Cilag, AstraZeneca, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi-Aventis, and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals.