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Effect of tacrine on language, praxis, and noncognitive behavioral problems in Alzheimer disease
Raskind MA, Sadowsky CH, Sigmund WR, Beitler PJ, Auster SB.. Archives of neurology, 1997-07-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Objective To examine the effects of tacrine hydrochloride in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and detectable baseline deficits in discrete cognitive and noncognitive parameters who are enrolled in a previously reported multicenter, double-blind, 30-week trial. Design An exploratory analysis using last observation carried forward. The study population included a placebo group (n = 181) and all patients randomized to treatment within 160 mg/d of tacrine hydrochloride (n = 234), regardless of highest dose achieved or duration of tacrine therapy. Study population Male and female subjects, at least 50 years of age, with mild to moderate AD and detectable baseline deficits in discrete cognitive and noncognitive parameters. Main outcome measures Change from baseline to last observation carried forward in discrete subscale scores of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS): cognitive (memory, language, praxis) and noncognitive (mood, behavior). Improvement was defined as a decrease of at least 1 point from baseline; stabilization was defined as no change or a decrease from baseline. Results Compared with the placebo group, the percentage of patients receiving tacrine whose conditions improved or stabilized was significantly greater for 8 of 11 ADAS-cognitive items (word recall, word recognition, orientation, language production, comprehension, word finding, following commands, ideational praxis) and for the ADAS-noncognitive items: cooperation, delusions, and pacing. Conclusions Tacrine stabilizes or improves specific behavioral deficits and symptoms in AD. The previous demonstration of tacrine's effect on global cognitive function has been extended by suggesting an association between tacrine therapy and improvements in individual cognitive and noncognitive items of the ADAS. Effects of tacrine in clinical practice might be more accurately and efficiently assessed by measuring individual ADAS cognitive and noncognitive items relevant to individual patient pretreatment clinical status.
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APA 7th
Raskind, M. A., Sadowsky, C. H., Sigmund, W. R., Beitler, P. J., & Auster, S. B. (1997). Effect of tacrine on language, praxis, and noncognitive behavioral problems in Alzheimer disease. Archives of neurology. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.1997.00550190026010
Vancouver
Raskind MA, Sadowsky CH, Sigmund WR, Beitler PJ, Auster SB. Effect of tacrine on language, praxis, and noncognitive behavioral problems in Alzheimer disease. Archives of neurology. 1997. doi:10.1001/archneur.1997.00550190026010. PMID: 9236571.
BibTeX
@article{raskind1997-9236571,
author = {Raskind, M. A. and Sadowsky, C. H. and Sigmund, W. R. and Beitler, P. J. and Auster, S. B.},
title = {{Effect of tacrine on language, praxis, and noncognitive behavioral problems in Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Archives of neurology},
year = {1997},
doi = {10.1001/archneur.1997.00550190026010},
pmid = {9236571},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.1997.00550190026010}
}
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Key findings
- Results Compared with the placebo group, the percentage of patients receiving tacrine whose conditions improved or stabilized was significantly greater for 8 of 11 ADAS-cognitive items (word recall, word recognition, orientation, language production, comprehension, word finding, following commands, ideational praxis) and for the ADAS-noncognitive items: cooperation, delusions, and pacing.
Why it matters
In this exploratory analysis of a 30-week trial, a greater percentage of patients on tacrine improved or stabilized on 8 of 11 ADAS-cognitive items compared with placebo. It reports effects on language, praxis, and noncognitive problems in Alzheimer's disease but does not show a cure or prevention.
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Study details
- Participants181
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 61/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Archives of neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Archives of Neurology: journal h-index 353 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1997 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 181 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 2 / 2 | Randomised and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 112 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.6 citations a year over 31 year(s) since 1997 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 13.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 0 / 4 | Last-listed author Simon Auster: h-index 3 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Pfizer (United States): institution h-index 832 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 9236571) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 61 / 100 | — |
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