ACETYL-L-CARNITINE IN DEMENTIA

This study was designed to test the benefit of acetyl-l-carnitine in patients with dementia. Seventy-one patients of 65 years and over, living in their own homes or in residential care, took part in a 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial. The outcome was measured by comparing psychometric tests at 24 weeks to baseline measures. The active treatment group improved in mean scores in seven out of eight psychometric tests, the placebo treatment group in only two out of eight tests. The improvements were statistically significant in one test, recognition memory (p < 0.01). Linear discriminant function analysis indicated that active and placebo therapy could be distinguished according to the pattern of responses to the eight psychological tests (p < 0.01). In this small trial, acetyl-l-carnitine was shown to be non-toxic and possibly beneficial. Further large-scale trials are needed over long periods of time.