title: Cognitive and psychopathologic response to rivastigmine in dementia with Lewy bodies compared to Alzheimer's disease: a case control study.
abstract: Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are effective in improving cognition and behavior in patients affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD) as well as by Lewy bodies dementia (DLB). The authors compared the effect of rivastigmine in the treatment of cognitive impairment and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in 30 AD and in 30 DLB patients. At baseline, DLB compared to AD patients showed a greater number of extrapyramidal symptoms (P < .005) and were similar regarding cognitive symptoms and BPSD. After treatment, both groups showed a comparable cognitive and psycho-behavioral improvement. A significant difference between AD and DLB patients was found for hallucinations (P < .002). Rivastigmine produces comparable cognitive benefits in patients with DLB and AD and also a significant improvement of behavioral disorders. These findings support the view that ChEIs should be considered a first-line treatment of the cognitive and psycho-behavioral symptoms of both AD and DLB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Brescia, Italy. lrozzini@iol.it
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rozzini
authors.forename: Barbara Vicini
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Chilovi
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertoletti
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Ilenia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Delrio
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trabucchi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Padovani
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D048448:Phenylcarbamates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D000068836:Rivastigmine