Alzheimer's Disease Acitretin Medication

Changes of Cerebral Spinal Fluid APPSα Levels Under Oral Therapy With Acitretin 30 mg Daily in Patients With Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease: a Multicenter Prospective Randomised Placebo-controlled Parallel-group Study

The trials investigates the changes of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) soluble alpha-secretase cleaved APP (APPsα) levels under oral therapy with acitretin 30mg daily in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD).The present study aims to demonstrate an enhancement of the α-secretase activity by acitretin as measured by increased CSF APPSα levels in human AD. Second, the safety and tolerability of acitretin in AD patients should be proven.

Inclusion Criteria:

• mild to moderate AD (NINCDS-ADRDA criteria)
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE): 27-14 points
• Geriatric Depression Scale ≤ 14

Exclusion Criteria:

• hereditary cognitive impairment
• known history of brain injuries
• Insufficient German language skills
• actual treatment with other potential disease modifying drugs of AD
• multimorbidity or significant organ (esp. liver or renal) dysfunction
• evidence of Non-AD neurodegenerative disorder (e.g. Parkinson)
• contraindication to acitretin such as osteoporosis, hypoalbuminaemia