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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2010 Jun;25(4):347–352. doi: 10.1177/1533317510365344

Effects of Oral Rivastigmine on Cognitive Domains in Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease

Martin R Farlow 1, Jeffrey L Cummings 2, Jason T Olin 3, Xiangyi Meng 4
PMCID: PMC10845454  PMID: 20392862

Abstract

Rivastigmine has beneficial effects on cognitive functioning in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Effects of cholinesterase inhibitors, particularly rivastigmine, on AD Assessment Scale—cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) domains and individual items have rarely been analyzed. Results from 4 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 26-week rivastigmine capsule trials in patients with mild-to-moderate AD were pooled and ADAS-cog domains and individual items were evaluated. Data were available from 878, 1053, and 863 patients in the 1 to 4 mg/d, 6 to 12 mg/d, and placebo groups, respectively. Rivastigmine-treated groups were superior to placebo on total ADAS-cog and memory domain scores (P ≤ .0001). Rivastigmine 6 to 12 mg/d was also significantly better versus placebo on language (P < .001) and praxis (P < .001); greatest treatment responses were seen on memory items (P < .0001). Although rivastigmine was associated with dose-dependent improvements in all cognitive domains, largest effects were on memory items. Evaluation of ADAS-cog domain scores provides insight into test items most likely to respond to treatment.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, cognition, language, memory, praxis, rivastigmine

Full Text

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Contributor Information

Martin R. Farlow, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA, mfarlow@iupui.edu .

Jeffrey L. Cummings, Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer's Disease Research at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Jason T. Olin, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA.

Xiangyi Meng, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA.

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