Compositions for prevention and treatment of dementia

Abstract

4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulphone is a bactericide and anti-inflammatory agent. It is known to have therapeutic activity against leprosy, dermatitis herpetiformis, actinomycotic mycetoma, asthma, malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, Kaposiis sarcoma, pneumocystis carinii (pneumonia), subcorneal pustular dermatosis and cystic acne, in patients in need of such therapy. It is also known to have therapeutic activity against memory loss in patients in need of such therapy, including patients suffering from Alzheimer disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. Donepezil hydrochloride (donepezil) is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that is currently used for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer disease in patients in need of such therapy. It has now been found that combinations of 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulphone and cholinesterase inhibitors unexpectedly show synergistic effects in the prevention and/or treatment of dementia. The present invention relates to novel compositions and methods of preventing and/or treating dementia using combinations of 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulphone and a cholinesterase inhibitor (preferably donepezil). The method involves the administration to such individuals a drug composition of 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulphone and a cholinesterase inhibitor. The invention also relates to a method of preventing and/or treating dementia including senile dementia, that involves the use of this combination of drugs.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.