Zoloft Improves Moods of Alzheimer Patients With Depression

The anti-depression drug Zoloft® improves the moods of Alzheimer's patients, but not their cognitive abilities such as thinking, remembering and learning, according to a study reported in the July 2003 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Zoloft (sertraline hydrochloride) is a common treatment for psychiatric diseases such as major depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and panic disorder. About 25 percent of Alzheimer's patients suffer from depression.

When combined with the cognitive impairment of Alzheimer's, major depression is extremely disabling and can lead to death or suicide, according to study author Dr. Constantine Lyketsos, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins.

However, Lyketsos said the depression in Alzheimer's patients often goes undiagnosed in part because doctors feel they have little to offer in the form of treatment.

"This study shows that a simple treatment for depression improves the quality of life and seems to slow the functional decline of Alzheimer's disease," said Lyketsos. "This simple and safe treatment for depression has tremendous potential for improving the quality of life for both Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers."

The study involved 44 patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease and major depression who either received a placebo or Zoloft once a day for 12 weeks. The participants and their caregivers were also educated about the illnesses and received encouragement and emotional support throughout the study.

The researchers found that 84 percent of those receiving Zoloft were positively influenced, versus 35 percent in the placebo group. Treating depression was accompanied by fewer behavioral disturbances and improved activities of daily living.

Based on the results, Lyketsos and his team are leading a clinical trial to investigate the long-term benefits of Zoloft for Alzheimer's patients and determine how well the treatment eases the burden of caregivers.

Other sources: Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions