Rivastigmine for subcortical vascular dementia.
Rivastigmine is a second-generation cholinesterase inhibitor with selectivity for the CNS, with capacity to inhibit both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. Rivastigmine is currently approved for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. In addition to its effects on cognition and activities of daily living, rivastigmine appears to be useful in preventing and controlling behavioral and neuropsychiatric manifestations in Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. This drug profile could be potentially useful in patients with subcortical vascular dementia who often present these symptoms. Small open-label studies of patients with subcortical vascular dementia showed that rivastigmine improved attention, executive function, apathy and other behavioral deficits. Rivastigmine appears to be a promising agent in vascular dementia but its effects remain to be established in double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials.
Román
Gustavo C
GC
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, Mail Code 7883, San Antonio, TX 78229 3900, USA. romang@uthscsa.edu
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000523:psychology; D000818:Animals; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D048448:Phenylcarbamates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068836:Rivastigmine
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D000068836:Rivastigmine