BACKGROUND: Colostrinin, a proline-rich polypeptide complex (PRP) isolated from ovine colostrum, with immunoregulatory and procognitive properties, has shown positive effects in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of long-term Colostrinin treatment of AD patients. MATERIAL/METHODS: The patients were taking Colostrinin tablets (containing 100 mg of PRP complex) every other day for three weeks, followed by a 2-week hiatus to avoid the development of hyporeactivity. This mode of application, '3+2 weeks,' was used consistently throughout the trial. The efficacy of treatment was assessed by the MMSE scale, and each patient was evaluated at 4-month intervals. 33 patients were treated for 16 months. However, 13 patients from this group had already been treated with Colostrinin for 12 months during placebo-controlled studies, and thus participated in the trial for a total of 28 months. RESULTS: The results we obtained showed that Colostrinin induced slight but statistically significant improvement or stabilization of the health status of the patients in the trial. The adverse reactions observed, if any, were remarkably mild, including anxiety, logorrhea, and insomnia, and subsided spontaneously within a short period of time (3-4 days). CONCLUSIONS: Colostrinin is a very promising preparation which can be used to retard the development of AD.

Keywords: Colostrum - chemistry, Peptides - administration & dosage, Peptides - adverse effects