Double-blind cross-over study of phosphatidylserine vs. placebo in patients with early dementia of the Alzheimer type.

ABSTRACT

Thirty-three patients with mild primary degenerative dementia according to DSM-III (MMS between 15 and 27) took part in a double-blind cross-over study of phosphatidylserine (Fidia, 300 mg/d) versus placebo. Both treatment phases lasted for 8 weeks with an 8 week washout phase in between and a 4 week washout phase before treatment phase one. Clinical global improvement ratings showed significantly more patients improving under BC-PS than under placebo during treatment phase one. The improvement carried over to the following wash-out and treatment phases. There were no significant improvements in GBS dementia rating scale, psychometric tests or P300-latency. 16-channel EEG mapping findings indicated that the patients initially showed higher power values in all frequency bands (except alpha), when compared to a younger, healthy control group. BC-PS reduced the higher power values compared to placebo, shifting EEG power more towards the normal level.