Treatment Effects of Vortioxetine on Cognitive Functions in Mild Alzheimer’s Disease Patients with Depressive Symptoms: A 12 Month, Open-Label, Observational Study

Abstract

Background/Objectivesdepressive symptoms are common in Alzheimer’s disease(AD). Aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of vortioxetine compared with other conventional antidepressants on cognitive functions in AD patients with depressive symptomsDesignProspective, randomized, 12 month, parallel-group study.SettingAll participants were evaluated on-site at Neurodegenerative Disorders Unit, ASP2 Caltanissetta(Italy).Participants108 (71 female, 37 male) AD patients with depression(mean age 76.7± 4.3).InterventionRandomized subjects received vortioxetine, 15 mg/day (n=36) or other common antidepressants(n=72).Measuresprimary outcome was change from baseline in the MMSE; secondary outcomes were change in Attentive Matrices, Raven Coloured Progressive Matrices, Digit Span, HAM-D and Cornell scale.ResultsStatistically significant improvement vs. controls was observed for vortioxetine on most of the cognitive tests and showed significantly baseline-to-endpoint reduction in both HAM-D and Cornell total scores.The most commonly reported adverse events were nausea and headache for votioxetine; nausea in the control group.ConclusionsVortioxetine had a beneficial effect on cognition and mood in elderly AD patients and was safe and well tolerated.