COBALT - new dementia study opens in Sussex

22 February 2023

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) are related complex illnesses with a wide range of distressing symptoms.

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors (AChEI) are commonly used medicines that can help people with DLB/PDD by improving day to day functioning and thinking abilities.

Another drug which might help is Memantine, used to treat moderate to severe confusion in Alzheimer's Disease. It may help to improve memory, awareness and the ability to perform daily functions; however, it is not clear if adding Memantine to AChEI is beneficial for people with DLB/PDD - so this study aims to find out if this combination improves overall health and functioning for people with DLB or PDD.

The trial is sponsored by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust and funded by the  Health Technology Assessment | NIHR. The HTA programme funds research about the clinical and cost effectiveness, and the broader impact of healthcare treatments for those who plan, provide and receive care from the NHS, and social care services.

More information can be found at: https://research.ncl.ac.uk/cobalttrial/

Contact: dementiaresearchunit@spft.nhs.uk

Tel: 01892 603107