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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 May 31;86(22):2071-6.
doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000002714. Epub 2016 May 4.

Vitamin E in aging persons with Down syndrome: A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Mary Sano  1 , Paul S Aisen  2 , Howard F Andrews  2 , Wei-Yann Tsai  2 , Florence Lai  2 , Arthur J Dalton  2 ; International Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease Consortium
Collaborators, Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Vitamin E in aging persons with Down syndrome: A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Mary Sano et al. Neurology. .

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether vitamin E would slow the progression of cognitive deterioration and dementia in aging persons with Down syndrome (DS).

Methods: A randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial was conducted at 21 clinical sites, and researchers trained in research procedures recruited adults with DS older than 50 years to participate. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 1,000 IU of vitamin E orally twice daily for 3 years or identical placebo. The primary outcome was change on the Brief Praxis Test (BPT). Secondary outcomes included incident dementia and measures of clinical global change, cognition, function, and behavior.

Results: A total of 337 individuals were randomized, 168 to vitamin E and 169 to placebo. Both groups demonstrated deterioration on the BPT with no difference between drug and placebo. At baseline, 26% were diagnosed with dementia and there was an overall rate of incident dementia of 11%/year with no difference between groups. There was no effect on the secondary outcome measures. Though numerically higher in the treatment group, there was no difference in the number of adverse events (p = 0.079) and deaths (p = 0.086) between groups.

Conclusions: Vitamin E did not slow the progression of cognitive deterioration in older individuals with DS.

Classification of evidence: This study provides Class II evidence that vitamin E does not significantly slow the progression of cognitive deterioration in aging persons with DS.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials flow diagram
Figure 2
Figure 2. Results of primary outcome: Brief Praxis Test (BPT)
Data are reported as raw score at each assessment interval. The active group received 2,000 IU vitamin E daily. The placebo group received a comparable capsule.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Clinical Global Impression of Change
Data are reported as percent of group reporting each level of change. The active group received 2,000 IU vitamin E daily. The placebo group received a comparable capsule.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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