Table 1

Included Alzheimer’s disease studies

Study (a/b/c=separate study arms)ParticipantsInterventionOutcomes included
% FemaleMean age, yearsn
DrugPlaceboClassDrugDaily dosage, mgDuration, weeks
Herrmann 2008*6653.877.91313NRIMethylphenidate2021a, 9a
Lanctot 2014†6761.6762931NRIMethylphenidate2061a, 2a, 7a
Rosenberg 2013†6861.6762931NRIMethylphenidate2069a
Maier 2020693874.85454NRIBuproprion150–300121a, 3a, 8a
Mintzer 202113337610199NRIMethylphenidate20261a, 2a, 9b, 4a, 6a, 7a, 10a
Padala 201845076.63030NRIMethylphenidate10–20121a, 9a
Mohs 20092254.377.44745NRIAtomoxetine25–80261a
Frakey 201246Unknown77.31111NRIModafinil20089c
Levey 2021*‡7046.270.33939NRIAtomoxetine100261a, 2c, 4c, 6e, 7d, 8a, 9b, 10a
Winblad 20017162.473.7177169A1 AntNicergoline60261b
Amaducci 199972UnknownUnknown10295A1 AntNicergoline60521b
Banerjee 2021736682.8102102A1 AntMirtazapine45128a, 10b
Wang 20097440.980.61111A1 AntPrazosin688a
Crook 19922555711514A2 AgGuanfacine0.5133a, 5a, 7b
Mohr 1989*23a256288 A2 AgClonidine0.122a, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7a
b2562880.22
c2562880.42
Schlegel 1989*24406055A2 AgGuanfacine0.5–122a, 3a, 4b, 5c, 6c, 7a
Huff 199637aUnknownUnknown9291A2 AntBesipirdine10121b, 8b
bUnknownUnknown92914012
Rinne 201738a59723334A2 AntORM-1274130–60122b, 4c, 5d, 6d, 7c
b59723334100–20012
Peskind 20057580.6851714B AntPropranolol12069b, 8a, 10a
Mean/total over all studies56.775.845.945.1N/AN/AN/A12.9N/A
  • Drug: NRI=norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor; A1 Ant=alpha1 adrenergic receptor antagonist; A2 Ag= alpha2 adrenergic receptor agonist; B Ant=Beta adrenergic receptor antagonist/blocker; A2 Ant=alpha2 adrenergic receptor antagonist. Outcomes: Global cognition: 1a=Mini-Mental State Examination; 1b=Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale—Cognitive Subscale. Attention: 2a=Digit Span Forwards; 2b=Continuity of Attention; 2c=Trails A. Visuospatial: 3a=Benton Visual Retention—No. Correct; 3b=Visual Retention Test—Delayed Recall; 3c=15 Objects Test; 3d=Spatial Recognition Memory (latency). Semantic Memory: 4a=Action Verbal Fluency Test; 4b=Supermarket fluency; 4c=Category fluency test. Episodic Visual Memory: 5a=Benton Visual Retention; 5b=Visual Retention Test—Delayed Recall; 5c=Quality of Episodic Memory. Episodic Verbal Memory: 6a=Hopkins Verbal Learning Test—Revised Delayed Recall; 6b=Verbal Learning Delayed Recall; 6c=Rey Verbal Learning—Delayed Recall; 6d=Controlled Oral Word Association Test; 6e=Wechsler Memory Scale—Logical Memory Delayed Recall. Executive Functions and Working Memory: 7a=Digit Span Backwards; 7b=Wechsler Paired Associates; 7c=Quality of Working Memory; 7d=Trails B.

  • General behaviour/neuropsychiatric symptoms: 8a=The Neuropsychiatry Inventory—Total; 8b=Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale—Non-Cognitive Subscale. Apathy: 9a=Apathy Evaluation Scale; 9b=The Neuropsychiatry Inventory—Apathy; 9c=The Frontal Systems Behaviour Scale—Apathy. Agitation: 10a=The Neuropsychiatry Inventory—Agitation; 10b=The Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory.

  • *Cross-over design.

  • †The same trial reported across different publications.

  • ‡Mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease.