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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2007 Feb-Mar;22(1):42–47. doi: 10.1177/1533317506297517

Cognitive and Psychopathologic Response to Rivastigmine in Dementia With Lewy Bodies Compared to Alzheimer’s Disease: A Case Control Study

Luca Rozzini 1, Barbara Vicini Chilovi 2, Erik Bertoletti 3, Marta Conti 4, Ilenia Delrio 5, Marco Trabucchi 6, Alessandro Padovani 7
PMCID: PMC10697208  PMID: 17534001

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.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, cholinesterase inhibitors, BPSD

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Contributor Information

Luca Rozzini, Department of Neurology, University of Brescia, Geriatric Research Group, Brescia, Italy, lrozzini@iol.it .

Barbara Vicini Chilovi, Department of Neurology, University of Brescia, Geriatric Research Group, Brescia, Italy.

Erik Bertoletti, Department of Neurology, University of Brescia, Italy.

Marta Conti, Department of Neurology, University of Brescia, Italy.

Ilenia Delrio, Department of Neurology, University of Brescia, Italy.

Marco Trabucchi, Geriatric Research Group, Brescia, Italy.

Alessandro Padovani, Department of Neurology, University of Brescia, Italy.

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