Cholinesterase inhibitors:  beyond Alzheimer’s disease.
Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are widely licensed for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, but their use has also been examined in a wide variety of neurological disorders besides Alzheimer’s disease, and this article reviews these uses. The evidence currently available suggests that ChEIs may possibly have a role in the treatment of some patients with dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia, but at this point in time there would seem to be only a limited case for recommending ChEIs in mild cognitive impairment, Down syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, pure vascular dementia, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, delirium, traumatic brain injury, sleep-related disorders or certain psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia and bipolar disorder). Clinical practice with respect to non-Alzheimer’s disease indications for ChEIs may vary according to jurisdiction, specifically with regards to whether national guidelines effectively limit off-licence drug use.
Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool, L9 7LJ, UK. a.larner@thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk
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D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors