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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 Aug;25(5):407–413. doi: 10.1177/1533317510367486

Evaluating Rivastigmine in Mild-to-Moderate Parkinson’s Disease Dementia Using ADAS-Cog Items

Frederick A Schmitt 1, Dag Aarsland 2, Kolbjørn S Brønnick 3, Xiangyi Meng 4, Sibel Tekin 5, Jason T Olin 6
PMCID: PMC10845542  PMID: 20392860

Abstract

Rivastigmine has been shown to improve cognition in patients with Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD). To further explore the impact of anticholinesterase therapy on PDD, Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) items were assessed in a retrospective analysis of a 24-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of rivastigmine. Mean changes from baseline at week 24 were calculated for ADAS-cog item scores and for 3 cognitive domain scores. A total of 362 patients were randomized to 3 to 12 mg/d rivastigmine capsules and 179 to placebo. Patients with PDD receiving rivastigmine improved versus placebo on items: word recall, following commands, ideational praxis, remembering test instructions, and comprehension of spoken language (P < .05), with standardized mean differences ranging from 0.04 to 0.30. Rivastigmine also showed significant effects versus placebo on all domains: memory, language, and praxis. The ADAS-cog is sensitive to broad cognitive changes in PDD. Overall, rivastigmine was associated with improvements on individual cognitive items and general cognitive domains.

Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, dementia, rivastigmine, Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale, cognition

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Contributor Information

Frederick A. Schmitt, Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA, fascom@email.uky.edu .

Dag Aarsland, Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.

Kolbjørn S. Brønnick, The Norwegian Centre for Movement Disorders, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.

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

Sibel Tekin, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA.

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

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