Dr. Macfarlane replies RE P300 correlation.
Via kdreesen on YMB:
There is a long thread on this board about the correlation between P300 and MMSE, etc. Paymerx and Pivotalchange were questioning, rightfully so, the implied correlation Anavex made between cognitive EER/ERP effect and cognitive tests (Mini Mental State Examination and Cogstate Scale) in the Ph2a data in the July 22 pr and AAIC poster. They cited references claiming there was no correlation; therefore, the increased amplitude of P300 measured in the first twelve patients was basically meaningless.
After reading some studies, still unsure, I thought I would ask Dr. Macfarlane (principal investigator of Ph2a trial) what he thought.
(Part of) my email inquiry : "...Anavex states that "preliminary measured Mini Mental State Examination and Cogstate Scale changes are consistent with the observed trend of Cognitive EEG/ERP effect," and yet, it seems, based on current studies, there is no strong correlation between the tests and EEG/ERP. I quote one such study:
'Despite the fact that in our study we measured latencies and amplitudes of all the major waves of the AERPs (N200, P300 and SW) in the largest number of MCI patients to date, we like to point out that we were not able to establish significant correlations between latencies and amplitudes of N200, P300 and SW and the patients' performance in MMSE, which is a basic psychometric test for the assessment of patients suffering from MCI. This conclusion, we believe, is in line with the conclusions of the majority of the relevant known studies." [Neuroscience, 2008, Papaliagkas, Vasileios]'
Would you say that's an accurate assessment?"
His response (today):
"The poster presentation referenced the following study:
Clinical Neuropharmacology Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 207-215 (2002)
This shows clearly the correlation between P300 and changes in ADAS-Cogand MMSE."
His language is unequivocal.
