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Cognitive Effects of the BET Protein Inhibitor Apabetalone: A Prespecified Montreal Cognitive Assessment Analysis Nested in the BETonMACE Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors :
Henrik Zetterberg
Bengt Winblad
Chris Halliday
Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh
Jeffrey L. Cummings
Gregory G. Schwartz
Kausik K. Ray
Stephen J. Nicholls
Aziz Khan
Michael O. Sweeney
Jan O. Johansson
Peter P. Toth
Ewelina Kulikowski
Kenneth Lebioda
Henry N. Ginsberg
Norman C.W. Wong
Source :
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
IOS Press, 2021.

Abstract

Background: Epigenetic changes may contribute importantly to cognitive decline in late life including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). Bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) proteins are epigenetic “readers” that may distort normal gene expression and contribute to chronic disorders. Objective: To assess the effects of apabetalone, a small molecule BET protein inhibitor, on cognitive performance of patients 70 years or older participating in a randomized trial of patients at high risk for major cardiovascular events (MACE). Methods: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was performed on all patients 70 years or older at the time of randomization. 464 participants were randomized to apabetalone or placebo in the cognition sub-study. In a prespecified analysis, participants were assigned to one of three groups: MoCA score≥26 (normal performance), MoCA score 25–22 (mild cognitive impairment), and MoCA score≤21 (dementia). Exposure to apabetalone was equivalent in the treatment groups in each MoCA-defined group. Results: Apabetalone was associated with an increased total MoCA score in participants with baseline MoCA score of≤21 (p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in change from baseline in the treatment groups with higher MoCA scores. In the cognition study, more patients randomized to apabetalone discontinued study drug for adverse effects (11.3% versus 7.9%). Conclusion: In this randomized controlled study, apabetalone was associated with improved cognition as measured by MoCA scores in those with baseline scores of 21 or less. BET protein inhibitors warrant further investigation for late life cognitive disorders.

Details

ISSN :
18758908 and 13872877
Volume :
83
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....188b82b89f296b0c5f10f0a31785301c
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-210570