Huperzine A may improve cognition.
Huperzine A is a natural acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor derived from Huperzia serrata (an herb used in Chinese medicine) and available in health food stores. In this multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, partly industry-supported, phase II study, researchers studied the effects of two dosages of huperzine A in 210 patients age 50 or older with probable Alzheimer disease (AD).
Participants had mild-to-moderate dementia (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] scores, 10–24); mean age was 78 (64% women). The three treatment groups were huperzine A 200 µg twice daily (after 2 weeks' titration at 100 µg twice daily), huperzine A 400 µg twice daily (after titration at lower doses for 6 weeks), and placebo. The study laste…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)