Antidepressiva Vorioxetin im Zusammenhang mit größeren kognitiven und Stimmungsverbesserungen bei Alzheimer -Patienten

Open label, observational, n=108

**Abstract**

*Background*

Depressive symptoms are common in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), leading to an increasing use of antidepressants.

*Objective*

To compare the effects of vortioxetine with other conventional antidepressants on cognition in AD patients with depressive symptoms.

*Methods*

This analysis is a subgroup of a 12-month, prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study involving 108 outpatients receiving either vortioxetine or escitalopram, paroxetine, or bupropion as part of routine care. Data were collected at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Cognitive symptoms were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Attentive Matrices (AM), Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPR), and Digit Span; depressive symptoms using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD). Results for patients on vortioxetine were compared to those on other antidepressants.

*Results*

Total scores on cognitive measures improved in all groups. Improvements versus baseline in MMSE, AM, and CPM were statistically significant in the vortioxetine group (p < 0.001), but not in the other antidepressant groups. Digit Span scores did not differ significantly from baseline. The between-group differences in MMSE, AM, and CPM changes were statistically significant in favor of vortioxetine (p < 0.05), while the Digit Span change showed a trend towards superiority with vortioxetine, but did not reach statistical significance. The between-group differences in HAM-D and CSDD changes were also statistically significant for vortioxetine (p < 0.05).

*Conclusions*

Vortioxetine was superior in improving both cognitive and depressive symptoms compared to other antidepressants. Larger studies which may also help to understand whether the beneficial effect observed with vortioxetine was a direct effect or mediated by its specific antidepressant efficacy are required.