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Double blind study of melatonin effects on the sleep-wake rhythm, cognitive and non-cognitive functions in Alzheimer type dementia
Asayama K, Yamadera H, Ito T, Suzuki H, Kudo Y, Endo S.. Journal of Nippon Medical School = Nippon Ika Daigaku zasshi, 2003-08-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Previously, we reported that morning bright light therapy improved sleep time and cognitive function in Alzheimer type of dementia. We conducted a double blind study to examine the effects of melatonin on the sleep-wake rhythm, cognitive and non-cognitive functions in Alzheimer type of dementia. The subjects were 9 persons given a placebo (PLA), and 11 given melatonin ( 3 mg)(MLT).
Key findings
- We conducted a double blind study to examine the effects of melatonin on the sleep-wake rhythm, cognitive and non-cognitive functions in Alzheimer type of dementia.
- The subjects were 9 persons given a placebo (PLA), and 11 given melatonin ( 3 mg)(MLT).
- The mean age was 79.2+/-6.4 (17 females and 3 males).
- The drugs were given at 20: 30 each day for 4 weeks.
Why it matters
This small double-blind study gave 3 mg of melatonin or a placebo to 20 people with Alzheimer type dementia for 4 weeks to see effects on sleep-wake rhythm and cognitive and non-cognitive function. The text provided does not report the results, so no conclusion about treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease can be drawn from it.
Study details
- Effect size13.7%; 37.6%; 77.0%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and sample size because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Nippon Medical School = Nippon Ika Daigaku zasshi) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Journal of Nippon Medical School: journal h-index 50 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2003 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (pubmed indexes it as a clinical or observational study) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 242 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.7 citations a year over 25 year(s) since 2003 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 18 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Shunkichi Endo: h-index 14 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Nippon Medical School: institution h-index 344 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 12928714) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1272/jnms.70.334
- PubMed: 12928714
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Nippon Medical School →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Asayama, K., Yamadera, H., Ito, T., Suzuki, H., Kudo, Y., & Endo, S. (2003). Double blind study of melatonin effects on the sleep-wake rhythm, cognitive and non-cognitive functions in Alzheimer type dementia. Journal of Nippon Medical School = Nippon Ika Daigaku zasshi. https://doi.org/10.1272/jnms.70.334
Vancouver
Asayama K, Yamadera H, Ito T, Suzuki H, Kudo Y, Endo S. Double blind study of melatonin effects on the sleep-wake rhythm, cognitive and non-cognitive functions in Alzheimer type dementia. Journal of Nippon Medical School = Nippon Ika Daigaku zasshi. 2003. doi:10.1272/jnms.70.334. PMID: 12928714.
BibTeX
@article{asayama2003-12928714,
author = {Asayama, K. and Yamadera, H. and Ito, T. and Suzuki, H. and Kudo, Y. and Endo, S.},
title = {{Double blind study of melatonin effects on the sleep-wake rhythm, cognitive and non-cognitive functions in Alzheimer type dementia}},
journal = {Journal of Nippon Medical School = Nippon Ika Daigaku zasshi},
year = {2003},
doi = {10.1272/jnms.70.334},
pmid = {12928714},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1272/jnms.70.334}
}
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