Rivastigmine for Refractory REM Behavior Disorder in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Title:Rivastigmine for Refractory REM Behavior Disorder in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Volume: 11 Issue: 3

Author(s): Valerio Brunetti, Anna Losurdo, Elisa Testani, Leonardo Lapenta, Paolo Mariotti, Camillo Marra, Paolo Maria Rossini and Giacomo Della Marca

Affiliation:

Keywords: Acetylcholine, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, Alzheimer disease, cholinergic pathways, MCI, mild cognitive impairment, RBD, REM behavior disorder, REM, rivastigmine (RVT), sleep.

Abstract: Background: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and REM Behavior Disorder (RBD) are both associated with a degeneration of ponto-medullary cholinergic pathways. Methods: We conducted a placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot trial of Rivastigmine (RVT) in 25 consecutive patients with MCI, who presented RBD refractory to conventional first-line treatments (melatonin up to 5 mg/day and clonazepam up to 2 mg/day). Results: RVT treatment was followed by a significant reduction of RBD episodes when compared with placebo. Conclusions: Our data suggest that, in MCI patients with RBD resistant to conventional therapies (muscle relaxants benzodiazepines or melatonin,) treatment with RVT may induce a reduction in the frequency of RBD episodes compared to placebo.

Cite this article as:

Brunetti Valerio, Losurdo Anna, Testani Elisa, Lapenta Leonardo, Mariotti Paolo, Marra Camillo, Rossini Maria Paolo and Marca Della Giacomo, Rivastigmine for Refractory REM Behavior Disorder in Mild Cognitive Impairment, Current Alzheimer Research 2014; 11 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567205011666140302195648