Evidence for psychotropic effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Alzheimers disease is a dementing illness, the risk of which increases markedly with age. It is estimated that it consumes $US90 billion annually. Alzheimers disease is marked by an expanding cholinergic deficit, with a direct relationship between the degree of cholinergic dysfunction and the cognit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:CNS drugs 2000-06, Vol.13 (6), p.385-395
Main Authors: CUMMINGS, J. L, ASKIN-EDGAR, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cholinergic system
Medical sciences
Neuropharmacology
Neurotransmitters. Neurotransmission. Receptors
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
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Summary:Alzheimers disease is a dementing illness, the risk of which increases markedly with age. It is estimated that it consumes $US90 billion annually. Alzheimers disease is marked by an expanding cholinergic deficit, with a direct relationship between the degree of cholinergic dysfunction and the cognitive impairment. Substantial research continues to be focused on the development of newer and better medications, in particular acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), to compensate for the cholinergic deficit. Trial observations over the past several years suggest that in addition to positive effects on cognitive function, AChEIs may be able to decrease and ameliorate the neuropsychiatric symptoms frequently associated with Alzheimers disease. These observations have also shown that the instrumentation used can significantly influence the interpretation and outcome of a study. Typically the individual subscores of the noncognitive component of the Alzheimers Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-noncog) and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) scale have most consistently reflected the ability of AChEIs to improve the noncognitive behavioural problems and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Apathy and visual hallucinations are the symptoms that respond most positively to AChEIs. These agents may have the potential to decrease polypharmacy in this elderly population by achieving symptom reduction without additional use of antipsychotic medication.
ISSN:1172-7047
1179-1934
DOI:10.2165/00023210-200013060-00001