Journal of Nippon Medical School: Vol.70 No.4 page.334

Journal of Nippon Medical School

Select Language
in Japanese < > in English

Full Text of this Article

in English PDF (124K)

ArticleTitle Double Blind Study of Melatonin Effects on the Sleep-wake Rhythm, Cognitive and Non-cognitive Functions in Alzheimer Type Dementia

AuthorList Kentaro Asayama¹, Hiroshi Yamadera², Takao Ito², Hideaki Suzuki¹, Yoshihisa Kudo² and Shunkichi Endo¹

Affiliation ¹Department of Neuropsychiatry, Nippon Medical School
²Department of Neuropsychiatry, Tama-Nagayama Hospital, Nippon Medical School

Language EN

Volume 70

Issue 4

Year 2003

Page 334-341

Received February 17, 2003

Accepted March 10, 2003

Keywords Melatonin, Alzheimer type dementia, sleep-wake rhythm, cognitive function, non-cognitive function

Abstract Previously, we reported that morning bright light therapy improved sleep time and cognitive function in Alzheimer type of dementia. We conducted a double blind study to examine the effects of melatonin on the sleep-wake rhythm, cognitive and non-cognitive functions in Alzheimer type of dementia. The subjects were 9 persons given a placebo (PLA), and 11 given melatonin ( 3 mg)(MLT). The mean age was 79.2±6.4 (17 females and 3 males). The drugs were given at 20: 30 each day for 4 weeks. We checked sleep time and activity by Actigraph through one week before and the 4th week after drug administration. Cognitive and non-cognitive functions were evaluated with the clinical dementia rating scale (CDR), and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS). We successfully recorded Actigraph data from 18 patients (PLA8, MLT10). The mean sleep time change ratio and SD of the administration of PLA in the night was-0.2±13.7%, and MLT was 33.2±37.6%. The mean activity counts and SD of the administration of PLA in the night was 29.8±77.0%; in MLT it was-44.9±21.9%. Melatonin significantly prolonged the sleep time (p=0.017) and decreased activity (p=0.014) in the night (21: 00∼6: 00) in the MLT group, although no significant difference in sleep time or activity in the daytime (6: 00∼21: 00) was recognized between the two groups. In comparison with ADAS cognition score changes, the mean change and SD in the PLA was 0.3±3.7; in MLT it was-4.3±3.6 points. In comparison with ADAS non-cognition score, the mean change and SD in the PLA group was-0.8±1.0, in the MLT group it was-4.1±2.2 points. There were also significant differences between the PLA and the MLT groups in the comparison with the score improvement of ADAS cognition (p=0.017) and non-cognition (p=0.002), otherwise there was no significant difference in improvement of MMSE between both groups.
Melatonin administration had effect to improve sleep time and night activity, but no significant effect to improve daytime naps and activity. Although melatonin administration might has less strong effect on circadian rhythm than morning bright light therapy we previously reported, cognitive and non-cognitive functions were improved. Melatonin seemed to be useful for care of the Alzheimer type of dementia patients.

Correspondence to Kentaro Asayama, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan
asayama@nms.ac.jp

ArticleTitle	Double Blind Study of Melatonin Effects on the Sleep-wake Rhythm, Cognitive and Non-cognitive Functions in Alzheimer Type Dementia
AuthorList	Kentaro Asayama¹, Hiroshi Yamadera², Takao Ito², Hideaki Suzuki¹, Yoshihisa Kudo² and Shunkichi Endo¹
Affiliation	¹Department of Neuropsychiatry, Nippon Medical School ²Department of Neuropsychiatry, Tama-Nagayama Hospital, Nippon Medical School
Language	EN
Volume	70
Issue	4
Year	2003
Page	334-341
Received	February 17, 2003
Accepted	March 10, 2003
Keywords	Melatonin, Alzheimer type dementia, sleep-wake rhythm, cognitive function, non-cognitive function
Abstract	Previously, we reported that morning bright light therapy improved sleep time and cognitive function in Alzheimer type of dementia. We conducted a double blind study to examine the effects of melatonin on the sleep-wake rhythm, cognitive and non-cognitive functions in Alzheimer type of dementia. The subjects were 9 persons given a placebo (PLA), and 11 given melatonin ( 3 mg)(MLT). The mean age was 79.2±6.4 (17 females and 3 males). The drugs were given at 20: 30 each day for 4 weeks. We checked sleep time and activity by Actigraph through one week before and the 4th week after drug administration. Cognitive and non-cognitive functions were evaluated with the clinical dementia rating scale (CDR), and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS). We successfully recorded Actigraph data from 18 patients (PLA8, MLT10). The mean sleep time change ratio and SD of the administration of PLA in the night was-0.2±13.7%, and MLT was 33.2±37.6%. The mean activity counts and SD of the administration of PLA in the night was 29.8±77.0%; in MLT it was-44.9±21.9%. Melatonin significantly prolonged the sleep time (p=0.017) and decreased activity (p=0.014) in the night (21: 00∼6: 00) in the MLT group, although no significant difference in sleep time or activity in the daytime (6: 00∼21: 00) was recognized between the two groups. In comparison with ADAS cognition score changes, the mean change and SD in the PLA was 0.3±3.7; in MLT it was-4.3±3.6 points. In comparison with ADAS non-cognition score, the mean change and SD in the PLA group was-0.8±1.0, in the MLT group it was-4.1±2.2 points. There were also significant differences between the PLA and the MLT groups in the comparison with the score improvement of ADAS cognition (p=0.017) and non-cognition (p=0.002), otherwise there was no significant difference in improvement of MMSE between both groups. Melatonin administration had effect to improve sleep time and night activity, but no significant effect to improve daytime naps and activity. Although melatonin administration might has less strong effect on circadian rhythm than morning bright light therapy we previously reported, cognitive and non-cognitive functions were improved. Melatonin seemed to be useful for care of the Alzheimer type of dementia patients.
Correspondence to	Kentaro Asayama, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan asayama@nms.ac.jp