Therapeutic Potential of Intravenous Ketamine in Early-Onset Dementia: A Case Report.
Mariam Tadros, Dianella Rente Lavastida, Ashraf F Hanna
Cureus July 1, 2024 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.65261 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 56-year-old female with early-onset dementia |
| Intervention | Intravenous ketamine |
| Duration | Two months |
| Topics | Esketamine Ketamine |
| Keywords | Alzheimer's disease Anti-inflammatory Early-onset dementia Iv ketamine Neurology Treatment-resistant Intravenous ketamine Ketamine infusion Cognitive decline |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | Intravenous ketamine treatment was associated with improvements in cognitive function, mood, and daily living activities in a patient with early-onset dementia who had failed standard therapies. |
Abstract
This case report discusses the use of intravenous (IV) ketamine as a potential therapeutic agent for early-onset dementia. A 56-year-old female with a diagnosis of early-onset dementia showed significant cognitive decline despite trying and failing several standard treatments such as memantine, donepezil, and rivastigmine. Given the promising results of ketamine in other neurological and psychiatric disorders, the patient underwent a series of IV ketamine infusions over a period of two months. Following treatment, there was a notable improvement in cognitive function, mood, and daily living activities. By the end of her treatments, the patient stated she had more mental clarity, increased focus, improved memory, and increased energy. This case highlights the potential use of ketamine as a novel treatment approach for early-onset dementia and warrants further investigation in larger clinical trials.