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The Japanese study was conducted over the course of a 20-month period,where a group of 15 amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients withessential hypertension were divided into two groups. A group of eightparticipants were randomly allocated to take the drug, Nilvadipine, while theother seven remaining participants were designated to take the drug,Amlodipine.
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The study found that the group treated with Nilvadipine had stabilizedtheir decline in memory over the 20 months; whereas, the group treated withAmlodipine had continued to suffer loss of cognitive function, which wasdouble that of the small decline in the Nilvadipine controlled group.
"Although the study was conducted with a small sample size, this third-party validation is extremely encouraging, as there appears to be a strongprotective effect from developing Alzheimer's in memory-troubled patients whowere given Nilvadipine," said Dr. Michael Mullan, director of the RoskampInstitute, who has been researching the drug for its use in Alzheimer'sdisease.
The Roskamp Institute, which owns the worldwide proprietary rights to useNilvadipine for Alzheimer's disease, has been conducting its own humanclinical study in partnership with the Trinity College Institute ofNeuroscience in Dublin, Ireland, and has recently reported in March that theuse of the drug in Alzheimer's patients is receiving positive safety reviews.
While the drug, Amlodipine, is one of the top drugs sold in the UnitedStates for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure), Nilvadipine,is currently not available in the U.S. However, the Roskamp Institute plansto introduce Nilvadipine to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a part ofits phase II study early next year.
"As the authors of the Japan study propose, our Institute's researchersare planning to investigate whether the Japan study finding can be replicatedin a larger participant study," said Dr. Fiona Crawford, associate director ofthe Roskamp Institute, who has been working alongside Dr. Mullan inresearching Nilvadipine for its use in Alzheimer's disease. "As we continueto move forward in our studies, we are hopeful that we are well on our way tofinding a drug that will be useful in slowing down or preventing thisdevastating disease."
In addition, the Roskamp Institute is looking for volunteers who have beendiagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or Multiple Sclerosis to participate inRoskamp's ongoing research studies. If you or someone you know is interestedin participating, please contact our Clinical Trials Division at (941) 256-8018.
The Roskamp Institute is a not-for-profit research Institute located inSarasota and Tampa, Florida, that is dedicated to understanding the causes of,and finding cures for, neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders andaddictions with an emphasis on Alzheimer's disease. The Institute's MemoryClinics also offer comprehensive cognitive and medical assessment towarddifferential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and offers treatments anddisease management options once the diagnostic evaluation is complete.
For more information, please contact the Roskamp Institute in Sarasota at(941) 752-2949, the Roskamp Institute Clinical Trials Division in Sarasota at(941) 256-8018 the Roskamp Institute Memory Center in Tampa at (813) 979-2008,or visit us online at www.RoskampInstitu
