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A casuistic rationale for the treatment of spastic and myocloni in a childhood neurodegenerative disease: neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis of the type Jansky-Bielschowsky.

Lorenz R.
Case Reports 2002; 23(5-6): 387-390 PubMed PMID: 12500158 Citation  Keywords:  Analgesics, Non-Narcotic:therapeutic use, Anti-Anxiety Agents:therapeutic use, Anticonvulsants:therapeutic use, Antioxidants:therapeutic use, Benzodiazepines, Child, Preschool, Consanguinity, Disease Progression, Dronabinol:therapeutic use, Electroencepha.   

GOAL: The casuistic of a child suffering from late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) of the type Jansky-Bielschowsky aims to provide a description of possible therapeutic options for the severe spastic and the debilitating myocloni that occur within the context of this disorder. Moreover, it also should include a discussion of potential indications for the application of delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Dronabinol, Marinol) in childhood....

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The use of melatonin in Alzheimer's disease.

Cardinali D, Brusco L, Liberczuk C, Furio A.
Journal Article 2002; 23(Suppl 1): 20-23 PubMed PMID: 12019347 Citation  Keywords:  Aged, Alzheimer Disease:complications, Antioxidants:therapeutic use, Circadian Rhythm:drug effects, Clinical Trials as Topic, Humans, Melatonin:therapeutic use, Sleep Wake Disorders:drug therapy,.   

: About 45% of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients have disruptions in their sleep and sundowning agitation. Since melatonin secretion is greatly inhibited in AD patients we have used melatonin to treat sleep disorders in AD patients since 1995. In a first study [21] we reported, in 7 out of 10 dementia patients treated with melatonin (3 mg p.o. at bed time), a decreased sundowning. In a second study [22] we examined 14 AD patients who received 9 mg melatonin daily for 22 to 35 months, observing a significant improvement of sleep quality with stabilization of behavioral and cognitive parameters. In a third study [23] we reported two monozygotic twins with AD and similar cognitive impairment, one of them receiving 6 mg melatonin at bedtime daily for 3 years. Melatonin treatment improved sleep quality and suppressed sundowning. We now report the effect of melatonin (4-month-long treatment with 6 mg/day) in 45 AD patients with sleep disturbances. Melatonin improved sleep and suppressed sundowning, an effect seen regardless of the concomitant medication employed to treat cognitive or behavioral signs of AD. Melatonin treatment seems to constitute a selection therapy to ameliorate sundowning and to slow evolution of cognitive impairment in AD patients....

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