The use of Tacrine remains controversial and the CERA results are being used as part of a meta-analysis of all trials of Tacrine run by the Cochrane Collaboration Centre at Oxford University. A group of 21 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease took part in a 26 week double blind randomised controlled trial as part of an international multicentre study. Preliminary results from the US arm of the trial have been reported as showing a potentially beneficial effect of the active drug on cognition and activities of daily living. The trial is currently in an open label extension. Atypically presenting dementias Hayley Bennett, Barney Casey This study aims to provide a clearer definition of atypical presentations of Alzheimer's disease as well as identify and clinically define other neurodegenerative syndromes.
Patients undergo neuropsychological and neurological assessment.
Imaging studies are carried out for correlation. Where possible a post-mortem diagnosis is obtained. This study seeks to identify a clear classification for non-Alzheimer degenerative dementias. Patients with progressive cognitive decline indicating frontal or fronto-temporal dysfunction are followed over a number of years. Neuropsychological assessments are compared with images derived from PET and MRI scans.