title: Rivastigmine in vascular dementia.
abstract: Vascular dementia (VaD), like Alzheimer's disease (AD), is associated with cholinergic deficits. Rivastigmine provides sustained, brain-selective inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. Preliminary data suggest that rivastigmine may provide significant benefits in patients with AD and cerebrovascular disease (mixed dementia), and in patients with VaD. Open-label rivastigmine treatment has been associated with improved cognitive and functional abilities, behavioral symptoms, and reduced caregiver stress in a small pilot study in these patients. Larger, prospective, double-blind studies of rivastigmine in patients with VaD are under way. These studies will confirm whether rivastigmine is an efficacious treatment option for a range of patients for whom, until now, there have been few symptomatic therapies.
authors.affiliation: Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: Shoona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lane
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D048448:Phenylcarbamates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase; D000068836:Rivastigmine