Sodium benzoate for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD): A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled,6-week trial

Abstract

Objective:

Sodium benzoate, a D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) inhibitor, improved cognitive function of early-phase Alzheimer’s disease (AD) after 24-week treatment. This study examined benzoate treatment for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).

Methods:

In a double-blind, 6-week trial, 97 patients with BPSD were randomized to receive placebo or benzoate (mean dose: 622.0 mg/day). The primary outcomes were ADAS-cog and BEHAVE-AD.

Results:

Two treatments showed similar safety and primary and secondary outcomes.

Conclusions:

Compared to antecedent 24-week, higher-dose treatment for early-phase AD, benzoate appeared ineffective in this 6-week trial. Longer-duration, higher-dose trials are warranted to clarify its efficacy for BPSD.

Keywords

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) inhibitor sodium benzoate

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