Table 11.
Summary of the most relevant predictors based on their consistency.
| Evidence | Predictors | Response | Direction of the association | Timing of response (months) | Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consistent | Hallucinations | Cognitive and global | + | 3–5 months | Indicators of cholinergic deficit |
| Atrophy of substantia innominata | Cognitive | + | 3–12 months | Indicators of cholinergic deficit | |
| Rivastigmine concentration | Cognitive and global | + | 3–7 months | AChEI plasma concentration | |
| Higher doses of AChEI | Cognitive, functional, global, behavioral | + | 24–36 months | Drug dose | |
| Faster progression | Cognitive, global | + | 6 months | Rate of progression | |
| Low cholesterolemia | Cognitive | + | 12 months | Cardiovascular risk factors | |
| Use of antipsychotics | Cognitive | – | 36–48 months | Other drugs and comorbidities | |
| Higher T4 pre-treatment | Cognitive | + | 4–6 months | Thyroid function | |
| Medial temporal lobe atrophy | Cognitive | – | 6–46 months | Medial temporal lobe atrophy | |
| Apathy, disinhibition, irritability | Behavioral | + | 2–3 months | Behavioral profile | |
| Attention impairment | Cognitive, behavioral | + | 3–6 months | Other neuropsychological predictors | |
| Limited | Lower AChE salivary activity | Composite | – | 6 months | Indicators of cholinergic deficit |
| EEG P3 latency and CRT variability | Cognitive and behavioral | + | 6 months | Indicators of cholinergic deficit | |
| Higher scores on modified vigilance test from MoCA | Cognitive | + | 3 months | Indicators of cholinergic deficit | |
| Low parietal NAA/Cr ratio at baseline | Cognitive | + | 3 months | Indicators of cholinergic deficit | |
| Baseline overall, frontal, and parietal alpha EEG power | Cognitive | + | 6 months | Indicators of preserved cholinergic system | |
| Albumin <4 g/dl (for donepezil) | Cognitive | + | 15 months | Serum albumin | |
| Greater BMI | Composite | – | 6 months | Cardiovascular risk factors | |
| Lower IMT | Cognitive, behavioral, others | + | 6 months | Cardiovascular risk factors | |
| Anticoagulants, gastrointestinal drugs | Cognitive | – | 48 months | Other drugs and comorbidities | |
| Vitamin B12 | Cognitive | – | 24 months | Vitamin B12 | |
| Conflicting | White matter hyperintensities | Cognitive, behavioral, global | ± | 6–46 months | Indicators of preserved cholinergic system |
| BuChE-K variant | Coginitve and global | ± | 24–36 months | BuChE | |
| CYP2D6 | Cognitive, functional, global | ± | 3–40 months | Factors involved in drug metabolization | |
| CYP3A4 | Cognitive and global | – or null | 12–40 months | FACTORS involved in drug metabolization | |
| Donepezil concentrations | Cognitive and global | + or null | 3–12 months | AChEI plasma concentration | |
| Education | Cognitive, global | ± | 3–48 months | Indicators of cognitive reserve | |
| Age | Cognitive, functional, global | ± | 6–48 months | Demographic factors: Age, gender, race | |
| Gender | Cognitive, global, others | ± | 6–48 months | Demographic factors: Age, gender, race | |
| Short-term response | Cognitive, functional | ± | 9–120 months | Short-term response | |
| Lower MMSE at baseline | Cognitive, global, functional | ± | 3–48 months | Measures of cognitive or functional impairment at baseline | |
| Smoking | Cognitive, composite | ± | 6–48 months | Cardiovascular risk factors | |
| Hypertension | Cognitive, global | ± | 6–12 months | Cardiovascular risk factors | |
| Antiplatelet therapy | Cognitive | ± | 36–48 months | Other drugs and comorbidities | |
| Serum IGF-I levels | Cognitive | ± | 3–6 months | Serum IGF-1 levels | |
| Markers of amyloidopathy | Cognitive, behavioral, global | ± | 6–12 months | Markers of amyloidopathy, CSF biomarkers | |
| ApoE status | Cognitive, global | ± or null | 6–36 months | APOE |
Relevancy is established also based on predictors availability.