Effects of rivastigmine on actigraphically monitored motor activity in severe agitation related to Alzheimer's disease: a placebo-controlled pilot study

Mahlberg, Richard; Walther, Sebastian; Eichmann, Uta; Tracik, Ferenc; Kunz, Dieter (2007). Effects of rivastigmine on actigraphically monitored motor activity in severe agitation related to Alzheimer's disease: a placebo-controlled pilot study. Archives of gerontology and geriatrics, 45(1), pp. 19-26. Amsterdam: Elsevier 10.1016/j.archger.2006.07.006

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Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are effective in the treatment of cognitive symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Because the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) have also been attributed to central cholinergic deficits, we examined whether the AChEI rivastigmine can reduce motor activity as measured in a rater-independent manner by wrist actigraphy in agitated AD patients. A total of 20 consecutive AD inpatients (13 females, 7 males, 80.4+/-9.1 years, S.D.) were included from our geriatric psychiatry unit, all of whom were exhibiting agitated behavior not attributable to delirium. Patients were assigned randomly and in a single-blinded fashion to rivastigmine 3mg or placebo for 14 days. Motor activity levels were monitored using an actigraph worn continuously on the wrist of the non-dominant hand. At the beginning and end of the study, patients were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and Nurses' Observation Scale for Geriatric Patients (NOSGER). Patients in the rivastigmine group exhibited less agitation than placebo recipients on the NPI-agitation subscale, but not on NOSGER. Actigraphic measurements showed a tendency towards reduced motor activity in the rivastigmine group. Because rivastigmine usually exerts its main effects after a longer period of time, the short-term effects seen in our study justify further controlled clinical trials examining the use of rivastigmine in BPSD by means of actigraphy.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy > Management
UniBE Contributor:	Walther, Sebastian
ISSN:	0167-4943
ISBN:	16963137
Publisher:	Elsevier
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:55
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:17
Publisher DOI:	10.1016/j.archger.2006.07.006
PubMed ID:	16963137
Web of Science ID:	000246864600003
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/23490 (FactScience: 41993)