Apathy Associated With Alzheimer's Disease
Dementia, Alzheimer Disease
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Dementia focused on measuring Alzheimer's Disease, Apathy, Brain Reward System, Dopamine, Dextroamphetamine Challenge, Methylphenidate
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: age > 55 years meet DSM-IV criteria for primary degenerative dementia meet NINCDS-ARDA criteria for probable Alzheimer's Disease of at least one year's duration mild to moderate cognitive impairment (Global Deterioration Scale GDS <6, Mini-Mental State Examination >10 on a stable dose of a cholinesterase inhibitor for at least 3 months apathetic group only: Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) Apathy subscale score >=2 Exclusion Criteria: abnormal biochemical screening: blood cell count, vitamin B12, thyroid function tests, and syphilis screening tests significant medical illness or other medical/neurological conditions which diminish cognitive function evidence of seizure disorder an Hachinski ischemic score >3 indicating vascular dementia a brain computed tomographic (CT) scan revealing focal lesions, or inconsistent with AD electrocardiographic, laboratory or physical evidence of significant cardiovascular disease presence of premorbid or current psychiatric diagnosis including: major depression, schizophrenia, psychotic symptoms of a severity likely to provoke violent or dangerous behaviour (i.e., command hallucinations to harm people or persecutory delusions that provoke violent reactions) current or past psychoactive substance abuse or dependence (including alcohol, excluding nicotine) contraindications to receiving dextroamphetamine or methylphenidate have had administration of a depot neuroleptic injection within one treatment cycle of the first visit
Sites / Locations
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre