Glycosaminoglycan Polysulfate (Ateroid) in Old-age Dementias: Effects Upon Depressive Symptomatology in Geriatric Patients

1. Glycosaminoglycan polysulfate is a mixture of sulfo-muco-polysaccharides with hypolipidemic activity. A number of clinical studies have indicated that it is effective in improving psychopathology in patients with cardiac and/or cerebral disease associated with arteriosclerosis. 2. A multicenter clinical trial was performed to compare the effects of two different dosages of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate upon depressive symptomatology in patients with multi-infarct dementia and primary degenerative dementia. 3. A total of 39 patients were treated in an 18-week clinical trial which followed a single-blind parallel design. 4. Results indicated that patients with both diagnoses improved significantly in depressive symptomatology over the course of treatment, with particular improvement noted in cognitive disturbance. Drug dosage was not a significant determinant of treatment response for either diagnostic group.