Effects of magnesium valproate adjuvant therapy on patients with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#activities-of-daily-living #alzheimer-disease #cognition #humans #mental-status-and-dementia-tests

Effects of magnesium valproate adjuvant therapy on patients with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Zhang et al., 2022 | Medicine (Baltimore) | Meta Analysis

Citation

Zhang ChenQi, Sun LingQi, Sun HongBin. Effects of magnesium valproate adjuvant therapy on patients with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022-Aug-05;101(31):e29642. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000029642

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Current research has found contradictory results on the treatment of magnesium valproate (VPM) in patients with dementia (PwD). OBJECTIVES: Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of VPM in the adjuvant treatment of PwD. PURPOSE: Current research has found contradictory results on the treatment of VPM in PwD. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of VPM in the adjuvant treatment of PwD. METHODS: MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Embase, China National Knowledge (CNKI), and Wan Fang databases were researched to gather relevant data on magnesium valproate assistant therapy for patients with dementia (PwD) by using medical subject headings and term words. RESULTS: After the final screening, 22 RCT studies (a total of 1899 participants) were included in this meta-analysis, which compared VPM adjuvant treatment with antidementia or psychotropic drug monotherapy. Significant differences were found in the scores on mini-mental state examination (P = .028), Alzheimer disease assessment scale cognitive subscale (P < .05), Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale (P < .05), behavioral pathology in Alzheimer disease rating scale (P = .001), activities of daily living (P < .05), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (P < .05). Besides, the levels of inflammatory factors including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly lower than those in the monotherapy group (P < .05). While there was no increase in the incidence of adverse events (P = .383), VPM as an assistant therapy is generally well tolerated in PwD. CONCLUSION: By meta-analysis, evidence was found to support VPM additional used for the treatment of cognitive function, psychiatric symptoms, or disease improvement in PwD. VPM may be a potential drug to aid in the treatment of dementia patients. However, there was lack of enough evidence to classification of dementia severity in our inclusion study. More research is still needed, including clinical trials evaluating VPM as a complementary therapy.

Key Findings

After the final screening, 22 RCT studies (a total of 1899 participants) were included in this meta-analysis, which compared VPM adjuvant treatment with antidementia or psychotropic drug monotherapy. Significant differences were found in the scores on mini-mental state examination (P = .028), Alzheimer disease assessment scale cognitive subscale (P < .05), Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale (P < .05), behavioral pathology in Alzheimer disease rating scale (P = .001), activities of daily living (P

Outcomes Measured

  • sleep quality
  • PSQI (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index)
  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population dementia
Sample Size 1899
Age Range See abstract
Condition sleep

MeSH Terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Alzheimer Disease
  • Cognition
  • Humans
  • Mental Status and Dementia Tests
  • Valproic Acid

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: magnesium

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09