Lipitor as a Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease

November 8, 2006 updated by: Institute for the Study of Aging (ISOA)

Effect of the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor Atorvastatin Calcium, Lipitor, in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

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

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

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.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

98

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Arizona
      • Sun City, Arizona, United States, 85351
        • Sun Health Research Institute

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

50 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Masking: Double

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Institute for the Study of Aging (ISOA)

Collaborators

Pfizer

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: David L Sparks, PhD, Sun Health Research Institute

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

October 1, 2000

Study Completion

August 1, 2004

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 19, 2001

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 19, 2001

First Posted (Estimate)

September 20, 2001

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

November 9, 2006

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 8, 2006

Last Verified

November 1, 2006

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IA0031

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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