A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Galantamine in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment

• Memory and cognition (ADAS-COG/MCI and CDR-SB scores), global functional skills and overall severity of dementia (the CDR-SB and the overall Clinical Dementia Rating) measured at 12 and 24 months.
  

• Digit Symbol Coding and Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-ADL scale (MCI version) at 12 and 24 months. Safety assessment (reports of adverse events, laboratory values, results of physical examinations, and electrocardiograms) throughout the study.
  

This is an international, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who are clinically at risk for development of Alzheimer's disease will be treated for 24 months with either placebo or galantamine hydrobromide. Memory and overall clinical improvement will be evaluated using the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale with cognitive subscale adapted to MCI (ADAS-cog/MCI) and the Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of the Boxes (CDR-SB). Overall functional skills and the severity of dementia will be assessed with the Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of the Boxes (CDR-SB) and the overall Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score. Additional assessments include the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) to measure attention. Safety will be assessed using adverse event reports, vital signs, laboratory parameters, physical examination, and electrocardiogram. The study hypothesis is that treatment with galantamine will be well tolerated and, compared with placebo, will significantly improve the signs and symptoms associated with mild cognitive impairment in patients who are considered likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Galantamine hydrobromide immediate-release tablets (4, 8, or 12 milligrams), taken by mouth 2 times daily: 8mg/day for 4 weeks, 16mg/day for 4 weeks, then increased to 24mg/day for the remainder of the 24-month trial. Doses may be reduced at investigator's discretion after 12 weeks.