Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of memantine for domestic patients with Alzheimer?s disease (AD). Methods Randomized controlled trials carried in China, which compared memantine with placebo or other medicines in patients with AD, were searched from the electronic bibliographic databases, references listed in articles and journals. A systematic review was conducted based on the methods recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. Results Nine trials involving 1273 patients were included, of which two were placebo-controlled trials and seven non-placebo-controlled trials (piacetam and donepezil). Two placebo-controlled trials, in which neurological changes were assessed by some neuropsychometric questionnaires, showed that there were significant differences in mini-mental state examination(MMSE), Severe Impairment Battery(SIB), Alzheimer?s Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living Inventory(ADCS-ADL19) and Alzheimer?s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale(ADAS-Cog) scores between two groups (P＜0.05), and there was no significant difference in Neuropsychiatric Inventory(NPI) score (P＞0.05) although memantine group had better score than placebo group. Six donepezil-controlled trials showed that there was no significant difference in MMSE, ADAS-Cog, Activities of Daily Living Scale(ADL), Blessed-Roth, NPI and Clinician?s Interview Based Impression of Change-Plus Caregiver Input(CIBIC-Plus) scores between two groups (P＞0.05). One piacetam-controlled trial showed that there were significant differences in MMSE and Barthel Index(BI) scores between two groups (P＜0.05). One blank-controlled trial showed that there were significant differences in MMSE and ADL scores between the two groups (P＜0.05). Adverse reactions associated with medicines were reported in seven trials, including doze, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, deliria, agitation, anorexia, nausea, etc. However, no severe adverse reaction was reported. Conclusions Memantine can improve the general condition of patients with AD, including the cognitive function, daily life ability, mental behavior and global function. It has better therapeutic effects than piacetam, and at least equal tharapeutic effects to donepezil. It is safe for patients with AD.