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Treatments for Alzheimer disease
Potyk D.. Southern medical journal, 2005-06-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
As our population ages, the incidence and prevalence of Alzheimer disease (AD) will increase dramatically. A number of therapies have been investigated for the treatment and prevention of AD. Clinicians should be prepared to provide evidence-based answers to inquiries regarding AD treatment. There is insufficient evidence to recommend ginkgo biloba, estrogen, statins, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the prevention or treatment of AD. The use of vitamin E is supported by a single randomized controlled trial, while data on other antioxidants is mixed. There is good evidence that cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are modestly effective in the treatment of AD. Cholinesterase inhibitors appear to be effective throughout the spectrum of AD, while memantine, alone or in combination with cholinesterase inhibitors, is effective in late stage disease. There is insufficient evidence to suggest superiority of one cholinesterase over another.
Key findings
- There is insufficient evidence to recommend ginkgo biloba, estrogen, statins, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the prevention or treatment of AD.
- The use of vitamin E is supported by a single randomized controlled trial, while data on other antioxidants is mixed.
- There is good evidence that cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are modestly effective in the treatment of AD.
- Cholinesterase inhibitors appear to be effective throughout the spectrum of AD, while memantine, alone or in combination with cholinesterase inhibitors, is effective in late stage disease.
- There is insufficient evidence to suggest superiority of one cholinesterase over another.
Why it matters
This review found good evidence that cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are modestly effective for treating Alzheimer's disease, with memantine effective in late stage disease. It found insufficient evidence to recommend ginkgo biloba, estrogen, statins or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for prevention or treatment, and vitamin E was supported by only a single trial.
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Study details
- Study designrandomized controlled trial
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 48/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Southern medical journal) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Southern Medical Journal: journal h-index 134 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised 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 | 2005 — 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 | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 37 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.6 citations a year over 23 year(s) since 2005 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Darryl K. Potyk: h-index 7 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | University of Washington: institution h-index 3,540 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16004170) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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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
Potyk, D. (2005). Treatments for Alzheimer disease. Southern medical journal. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.smj.0000166671.86815.c1
Vancouver
Potyk D. Treatments for Alzheimer disease. Southern medical journal. 2005. doi:10.1097/01.smj.0000166671.86815.c1. PMID: 16004170.
BibTeX
@article{potyk2005-16004170,
author = {Potyk, D.},
title = {{Treatments for Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Southern medical journal},
year = {2005},
doi = {10.1097/01.smj.0000166671.86815.c1},
pmid = {16004170},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/01.smj.0000166671.86815.c1}
}
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