Cognitive performance in Alzheimer's disease patients receiving rivastigmine for up to 5 years

Int J Clin Pract. 2005 Apr;59(4):473-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1368-5031.2005.00524.x.

Abstract

This analysis aimed to assess mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores in patients with Alzheimer's disease who received rivastigmine, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, for up to 5 years. Rivastigmine data came from two pooled open-label extensions of four 6-month, randomised, placebo-controlled trials. Projections of decline, had the same patients not been treated, were made using a baseline-dependent mathematical model. MMSE data were available for 1998 rivastigmine-treated patients and 657, 298 and 83 were still on treatment at 3, 4 and 5 years, respectively. The mean (+/-SD) baseline MMSE score was 19.3 (+/-4.9). Projected mean scores in model-based untreated patients declined below 10 points on the MMSE at about 3 years, while the mean MMSE score of patients who remained on rivastigmine stayed above 10 points for 5 years.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy*
  • Alzheimer Disease / psychology
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Cognition Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Phenylcarbamates / adverse effects
  • Phenylcarbamates / therapeutic use*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Rivastigmine
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Phenylcarbamates
  • Rivastigmine