Adding Chinese herbal medicine to conventional therapy brings cognitive benefits to patients with Alzheimer's disease: a retrospective analysis.

摘要: Conventional therapy (CT) such as donepezil and memantine are well-known short-term treatments for the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The efficacy them, however, drops below baseline level after 9 months. In China, herbal a complementary is very popular. Should conventional combined with (CT + H) make add-on benefit? this retrospective cohort study, 344 outpatients diagnosed probable dementia due to AD were collected, treatment either CT + H or CT alone in clinical settings. All patients examined coronary MRI scan. Cognitive functions obtained by mini–mental state examination (MMSE) every 3 months longest follow-up 24 months. Most initially mild (MMSE = 21–26, n = 177) moderate (MMSE = 10–20, n = 137) dementia. At 18 months, CT+ H scored on average 1.76 (P = 0.002) better than patients, at 24 months, 2.52 (P < 0.001) better. improved cognitive function (△MMSE ≥ 0) was more (33.33% vs 7.69%, P = 0.020). Interestingly, received most robust benefit from therapy. deterioration largely prevented 24 months (ΔMMSE = −0.06), significant improvement (ΔMMSE = −2.66, P = 0.005). Compared alone, significantly benefited patients. A symptomatic effect pronounced time. decline substantially decelerated severity, while stabilized severity over two years. These results imply that Chinese medicines may provide an alternative additive AD.