In a randomized, placebo controlled trial, more than 600 patients (vet¬erans, almost all male) with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease, were studied. Participants took 2000 IU of vitamin E daily, Namenda (memantine), both or neither. Note: all patients were taking a acetylcholinesterase inhibitor at enrollment time. During an average 2.3 year follow-up, patient decline was significantly improved (smaller decline) in the supplement group as compared to the other groups, as determined by a 78 point ADL score (mean baseline score of 57). This is the second Alzheimer/Vitamin E study where the vitamin E supplemented group out-performed the placebo group. Interestingly, no excess mortality has been noted in three separate studies of 2000 IU/day for patients with chronic neurological disorders.
Dysken MW et al. Effect of vitamin E and memantine on functional decline in Alzheimer disease: The TEAM–AD VA cooperative randomized trial. JAMA 2014 Jan 1; 311:33.