Intervention Review

Alpha lipoic acid for dementia

  1. Anthony Klugman1,*,
  2. Justin Sauer2,
  3. Naji Tabet3,
  4. Robert Howard4

Editorial Group: Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group

Published Online: 8 OCT 2008

Assessed as up-to-date: 6 JUL 2008

DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004244.pub2

Database Title

Additional Information

How to Cite

Klugman A, Sauer J, Tabet N, Howard R. Alpha lipoic acid for dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD004244. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004244.pub2.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Uckfield Community Hospital, Beechwood Unit, Uckfield, East Sussex, UK

  2. 2

    Institute of Psychiatry, Section of Old Age Psychiatry, London, UK

  3. 3

    University of Brighton, Postgraduate Medical School, Brighton, UK

  4. 4

    Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

*Anthony Klugman, Beechwood Unit, Uckfield Community Hospital, Framfield Road, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 5AW, UK. anthony.klugman@tiscali.co.uk.

Publication History

  1. Publication Status: New search for studies and content updated (no change to conclusions)
  2. Published Online: 8 OCT 2008

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Abstract

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

Background

Oxidative processes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative dementias including Alzheimer's disease. Protecting the central nervous system against these damaging mechanisms may be a useful therapeutic approach. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is an endogenous antioxidant that interrupts cellular oxidative processes in both its oxidized and reduced forms. These properties might qualify ALA for a modulatory role in the treatment of people with dementia.

Objectives

To assess the role and clinical efficacy of alpha lipoic acid in the treatment of dementia.

Search methods

The Specialized Register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group (CDCIG), The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and LILACS were searched on 3 January 2008 using the terms 'alpha lipoic acid' and 'thioctic'. The CDCIG Specialized Register contains records from all major health care databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, LILACS) as well as from many trials databases and grey literature sources.

Selection criteria

All double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials examining the efficacy of alpha lipoic acid in dementia.

Data collection and analysis

No trials were found that met the selection criteria

Main results

No meta-analysis could be performed. A systematic search of the Specialized Register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group, as well as registers of ongoing and unpublished trials, could not identify any studies investigating the use of ALA for dementia.

Authors' conclusions

In the absence of randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials investigating ALA for dementia, no evidence exists to explore any potential effects. Until data from trials become available for analysis, ALA cannot be recommended for people with dementia.

 

Plain language summary

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

No evidence of efficacy of alpha lipoic acid for dementia

Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is one of a number of potent antioxidants for which a potential therapeutic role in dementia has been postulated. This suggestion arises from the possibility that oxidative and inflammatory processes contribute to the neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's disease. Whilst ALA has been used as part of the treatment for a variety of neurological disorders, no placebo-controlled randomized trials have been conducted for its use in degenerative dementias. ALA for the treatment of dementia of any subtype cannot currently be recommended.

 

摘要

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

背景

使用α硫辛酸(αlipoic acid)治療失智症

氧化過程是造成神經退化性失智症包括阿茲海默症的病理變化，預防中樞神經系統受到這些傷害可能是一種可行的治療方法，α硫辛酸(ALA)是一種內生型抗氧化劑，不管是在氧化型態或是還原型態下，ALA都可以減少細胞氧化過程，這樣的特性說明ALA在治療失智症患者時可能可以扮演的一個調節角色。

目標

本研究的主要目的在於評估ALA在治療失智症中所扮演的角色及其臨床療效。

搜尋策略

利用alpha lipoic acid和thioctic等關鍵字在2005年7月14日時使用Specialized Register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group (CDCIG)資料庫進行檢索，CDCIG Specialized register資料庫有定期的進行更新並且包含了主要健康照護資料庫(MEDLINE、EMBASE、PsycINFO和CINAHL)以及許多試驗資料庫的資料，檢索結果有發現一個正在進行中的試驗。

選擇標準

所有檢測ALA對失智症治療效果的雙盲隨機安慰劑對照試驗都會被納入研究中。

資料收集與分析

並沒有發現有任何試驗符合納入研究的標準。

主要結論

無法進行統合分析，針對Specialized Register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group資料庫、正在進行和未公開試驗資料庫進行系統性的檢索並無找到任何研究是探討ALA治療失智症的療效。

作者結論

因為缺乏使用ALA治療失智症的隨機雙盲安慰劑對照試驗，因此沒有任何證據可以說明ALA對於失智症的可能療效，在取得可用的試驗資料進行分析以前，並不能建議患者使用ALA來治療失智症。

翻譯人

此翻譯計畫由臺灣國家衛生研究院(National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan)統籌。

總結

缺乏ALA對於失智症療效的證據：ALA是一種強力的抗氧化物，因此也可能具有可以治療失智症的潛力，這個推論是起源於氧化和發炎反應是造成阿茲海默症神經退化的猜測，當使用ALA作為治療多種神經性疾病的用藥之一時，並沒有隨機性安慰劑對照試驗可以說明其對神經退化性失智症的療效，目前仍無法建議使用ALA治療任何型式的失智症。

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