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Important Notice: The Forum does not endorse any medical
product or therapy. ALL medications and supplements
should be taken ONLY under the supervision of a physician,
due to the possibility of side-effects, drug interactions,
etc.
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Name:
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COGNIShunt™
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Development Status:
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investigational in U.S.
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FDA Phase:
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Phase II/IIa/IIb
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Primary Medical Role:
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COGNIShunt® System is a cerebrospinal fluid shunt similar
but not identical to shunts used for the treatment of
children and adults with hydrocephalus. The COGNIShunt®
has been engineered specifically to provide a low flow of
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in individuals without
hydrocephalus and is designed to improve CSF clearance
without the over drainage of CSF.
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Role in Alzheimer's Disease:
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Cerebrospinal fluid production and turnover diminish with
age and may be further diminished in Alzheimer's disease.
Flow-regulated drainage of CSF may reduce the accumulation
of proteins such as tau and β-amyloid and other inflammatory
mediators implicated in AD.
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Side Effects:
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Side effects observed during the clinical trial are
similar to other shunt operations, which includes
seizures, shunt infection, and headache. All affected
individuals recovered from side effects and continued with
the trial.
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Evidence pro its efficacy:
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A prospective, randomized study of 29 patients with AD for
one year found group mean Mattis Dementia Rating Scale
total scores showed little change over the one year in the
shunt-treatment group, in contrast to a decline in the
control group.
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Notes:
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See ARF related news.
See also fact sheet on COGNIShunt from the Alzheimer
Association web site.
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Praticò D, Yao Y, Rokach J, Mayo M, Silverberg GG, McGuire
D. Reduction of brain lipid peroxidation by CSF drainage
in Alzheimer's disease patients. J Alzheimers Dis. 2004
Aug;6(4):385-389. Abstract
Chakravarty A. Unifying concept for Alzheimer's disease,
vascular dementia and normal pressure hydrocephalus - a
hypothesis. Med Hypotheses. 2004 ;63(5):827-33. Abstract
Silverberg GD, Levinthal E, Sullivan EV, Bloch DA, Chang
SD, Leverenz J, Flitman S, Winn R, Marciano F, Saul T,
Huhn S, Mayo M, McGuire D. Assessment of low-flow CSF
drainage as a treatment for AD: results of a randomized
pilot study. Neurology. 2002 Oct 22;59(8):1139-45. Abstract
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