The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7330 p877
18/25 December 2004

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Rivastigmine reduces dementia in Parkinson’s

Rivastigmine (Exelon) treatment is associated with moderate reductions in dementia associated with Parkinson’s disease, a new study has shown (New England Journal of Medicine 2004; 351:24).

Since cholinergic deficits are the most consistent neurochemical findings associated with the cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, Murat Emre, of Istanbul University, and colleagues investigated the effects of the dual cholinesterase inhibitor rivastigmine on dementia in Parkinson’s disease. They found that, when compared with placebo, rivastigmine produced moderate but significant improvements in global ratings of dementia, cognition, and behavioural symptoms.

However, worsening of parkinsonian symptoms, mainly tremor, occurred more frequently in the rivastigmine-treated patients than those given placebo.