Prevention of Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's Disease by Ingested Interferon Alpha

Males and females, age 50 or greater. Possible or probable dementia of the Alzheimer Type defined by NINDS-ARDA criteria with dementia of at least one year duration.

Folstein MMSE Score 10-24 inclusive. Vision, hearing, speech, motor function and comprehension must be adequate for compliance with all testing procedures

Absence of a reliable caregiver. Clinical or radiological evidence for other neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, normal pressure hydrocephalus, multi-infarct dementia, idiopathic seizure disorder, CNS infectious disease.

History of major psychiatric disorders; schizophrenia and unipolar or bipolar depression.

Presence of any significant medical disorder which might cause or contribute to dementia such as B12 or folic acid deficiency, untreated hypothyroidism, history of significant alcohol abuse (within the past 10 years).

Patients with recent (< 2 years) hematologic/oncologic disorders (other than basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

Patients with recent (< 3 months) myocardial infarction, poorly controlled CHF, surgery for peripheral vascular disease, or coronary artery bypass surgery.

Evidence of clinically significant or unstable active GI, hepatic or pulmonary disease.

History of documented stroke or more than one confirmed TIA. Any condition which would make the patient or caregiver, in the opinion of the principal investigator unsuitable for the study.

Patients with known hypersensitivity to Donezepil HCL or other piperidine containing drugs.