P2-376: Effect of tibet medicine in patients with Alzheimer's disease at high altitude

Abstract

To study the clinical efficacy of Rannasangpei which is traditional Chinese Tibetian medicines in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) at high altitude. One hundred and twenty patients with AD at high altitude of 2,600m above sea levels were divided into two groups randomly including and treated by Rannasangpei and Piracetam respectively. The whole course of treatment lasted for 12 weeks. Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL) were taken to evaluated the efficacy. Serum levels of Amyloid peptide (Aβ),amyloid precursor protein (APP) and beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleavagen enzyme-1(BACE-1) were measured by ELISA assay, respectively. The colorimetry was used to determine the levels of malondialdyhyde (MDA) and superoxide dismulases (SOD) from serum. ECG and laboratorial tests were measured every 4 weeks for safety. The scores of MMSE, ADAS-cog and ADL in treated group were significantly improved at 12 wk after treatment (p value respectively < 0.01,0.05,0.01), while no significant change in the control group (p<0.05). The level of Aβ40, Aβ42 and BACE-1 in the serum was significantly decreased after Rannasangpei treatment (P<0. 01). but levels of APP, SOD and MDA unchanged in the both groups. No obvious drug side effect happened on the groups. Rannasangpei is effective in treating patients with mild to moderate AD at high altitude. The serum BACE-1 reduction may lead to decrease Aβ production in AD patients. Our findings identify an alternative mechanism of action for Rannasangpei in the reduction of Abeta deposition in the brains and serum of Rannasangpei- treated animals and potentially in Alzheimer disease patients. It was well tolerated and safe.