Parkinson's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Parkinson's Disease, including details on symptoms, treatment, genetics, medication.

A review of studies describing the use of acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors in Parkinson's disease dementia.

Maidment ID, Fox C, Boustani M

East Kent NHS & SCPT, UK. ian.maidment@nhs.net

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature relating to the use of acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors in Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD). METHOD: MEDLINE (1966--December 2004), PsychINFO (1972--December 2004), EMBASE (1980--December 2004), CINHAL (1982--December 2004), and the Cochrane Collaboration were searched in December 2004. RESULTS: Three controlled trials and seven open studies were identified. Efficacy was assessed in three key domains: cognitive, neuropsychiatric and parkinsonian symptoms. CONCLUSION: Cholinesterase inhibitors have a moderate effect against cognitive symptoms. There is no clear evidence of a noticeable clinical effect against neuropsychiatric symptoms. Tolerability including exacerbation of motor symptoms--in particular tremor--may limit the utility of cholinesterase inhibitors.

Published 9 May 2005 in Acta Psychiatr Scand, 111(6): 403-9.
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