Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0030567 (Parkinson's disease)
 63,064 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD), often develop dementia (PDD). Their brain histology reveals Alzheimer's disease (AD) like changes and decreased cholin-acetyl transferase (ChAT) activity, in addition to typical PD changes. This cholinergic deficiency has been related to the degree of mental decline. As centrally acting cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) provide cognitive and non-cognitive improvement for AD patients, the same therapeutic effect was hypothesized for PDD patients as well. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of ChEIs on both the cognitive and motor state of PDD patients. An open study was conducted. Eleven consecutive PDD patients (M/F 6/5 mean age 75 y) were found eligible for inclusion. They were treated for 26 weeks with tacrine (7 patients) and donepezil (4 patients) as add-on to their regular anti PD drugs. Cognitive assessment was performed at baseline and endpoint by Mini-Mental-State-Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's-Disease-Assessment-Scale (ADAS-cog). Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) was performed to evaluate active daily living (ADL). Motor evaluation was performed using Short Parkinson Evaluation Scale (SPES) at baseline and end-point. Statistical analysis used Student's paired t-test, ANOVA with repeated measures and Pearson correlation coefficient. ChEIs treated PDD patients showed improvement in their cognitive state. Mean ADAS-cog improved significantly by 3.2 points (p < 0.012). Mean MMSE and GDS improved non-significantly by 1.2 and 0.2 points respectively. There was no change in motor function as evident by mean SPES scores, 16.5 at baseline and endpoint. Five individuals actually demonstrated motor improvement under ChEIs. We conclude that ChEIs have a beneficial effect on the cognitive state of PDD patients without aggravating motor function.
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PMID:The beneficial effect of cholinesterase inhibitors on patients suffering from Parkinson's disease and dementia. 1176 30

Fluctuating cognition is evidenced in different forms of dementia and is accompanied by electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities. The authors hypothesize that cholinesterase inhibitors are effective mostly in patients with fluctuating cognition. Twenty-three patients affected by mild dementia with similar scores on Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog), and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale evaluation were classified in a group with fluctuating cognition (n = 11) and a group of nonfluctuators (n = 12). All patients were assigned randomly to the branches of a double-blind crossover study of donepezil (DPZ), a 5 to 10-mg dose, versus vitamin E, a 2000 IU dose, for 30 days. MMSE, ADAS-cog, University of California at Los Angeles Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), quantitative EEG, P3 event-related potentials, choice reaction time variability (CRTV) were assessed at baseline and at the end of treatments. At the end of the crossover study all patients received DPZ for 6 months. The dominant EEG frequency variability, low EEG frequencies amplitude, the P3 latency and jitter, CRTV, and NPI was significantly different in the fluctuating cognition group than the nonfluctuating group at baseline (P < 0.001). Short-term DPZ administration induced a significant increase in MMSE scores, reduction of ADAS-cog and of NPI scores (P < 0.003-0.001), increase of EEG alpha activity and reductions of P3 latency and jitter, dominant frequency variability and CRTV (P < 0.009-0.001) in the fluctuating cognition group, and significant increases of MMSE scores (P = 0.03) and a decrease of P3 jitter and dominant frequency variability (P < 0.034-0.041) in the nonfluctuating group. Short-term DPZ effects differed significantly between fluctuating cognition and nonfluctuating patients (0.001). Significant effects of the 6-month observation were observed only in fluctuating cognition patients. Logistic analysis showed that P3 latency predicts the effect of DPZ (P = 0.04, P < 0.01) in the crossover study, and CRTV predicts the effect at the 6-month follow-up.
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PMID:The effects of a cholinesterase inhibitor are prominent in patients with fluctuating cognition: a part 3 study of the main mechanism of cholinesterase inhibitors in dementia. 1452 Jan 64

In patients with dementia associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), the efficacy and safety of rivastigmine, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, were previously demonstrated in a 24-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Our objective was to determine whether benefits were sustained over the long term. Following the double-blind trial, all patients were permitted to enter an active treatment extension study, during which they received rivastigmine 3-12 mg/day. Standard safety assessments were performed. Efficacy assessments included the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and other measures of cognition, daily function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and executive function. Of 433 patients who completed the double-blind trial, 334 entered and 273 completed the active treatment extension. At 48 weeks, the mean ADAS-cog score for the whole group improved by 2 points above baseline. Placebo patients switching to rivastigmine for the active treatment extension experienced a mean cognitive improvement similar to that of the original rivastigmine group during the double-blind trial. The adverse event profile was comparable to that seen in the double-blind trial. Long-term rivastigmine treatment appeared well tolerated and may provide sustained benefits in dementia associated with PD patients who remain on treatment for up to 48 weeks.
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PMID:Long-term benefits of rivastigmine in dementia associated with Parkinson's disease: an active treatment extension study. 1622 10

The objectives of the present study were first to determine the feasibility of conducting a randomized clinical trial of 5 mg/day donepezil in patients with mild to moderate dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and second, to obtain preliminary data of possible intervention effects. Twelve patients with probable DLB were evaluated at weeks 4, 8, and 12 using modified Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) with an extra domain to additionally evaluate fluctuation in cognitive functions (NPI-11); the Japanese version of Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-J cog); and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). The NPI-11 scores were significantly improved at weeks 8 and 12 compared with baseline. Despite a significant improvement in ADAS-J-cog at week 4, no more improvement was noted thereafter. Deterioration was not noted in UPDRS scores. Donepezil is expected to be therapeutically useful and safe in treating DLB patients, indicating marked improvements in behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) rather than in cognitive deficit, without deteriorating parkinsonism.
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PMID:Efficacy and safety of donepezil in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies: preliminary findings from an open-label study. 1659 43

Several evidences suggest that cholinergic deficits may significantly contribute to dementia in Parkinson's disease (PDD) and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) have been reported to improve cognitive symptoms in PDD, without worsening parkinsonism. Nineteen PDD patients underwent brain perfusion SPECT with (99m)Tc-ethyl cysteinate dimer after 6 months ChEIs treatment in order to evaluate the functional correlates of clinical improvement. A clear-cut cognitive improvement was reported in PDD patients with a significant improvement of ADAS-cog total score as well as of subscores exploring executive functions (p<0.01). MMSE total score did not significantly change after ChEIs but the subscore of attention significantly improved after therapy (p<0.01). No difference in motor performance as evaluated by UPDRS was reported. SPM analysis showed a significant increase of perfusion (p < 0.0001) in bilateral cingulate, and frontal regions after ChEIs. Our data confirm the efficacy of ChEIs in the treatment of dementia associated with PD mainly on attention and executive functions, and the functional findings indicate that this cognitive improvement could be associated with a sort of pharmacological frontal "re-afferentation".
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PMID:Brain perfusion effects of cholinesterase inhibitors in Parkinson's disease with dementia. 1675 32

We aimed to determine prospectively whether rivastigmine, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, provided benefits in patients with and without visual hallucinations in a population with dementia associated with Parkinson's disease (PDD). This was a 24-week double-blind placebo-controlled study. Primary efficacy measures were the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Clinician's Global Impression of Change (ADCS-CGIC). Secondary efficacy measures included activities of daily living, behavioral symptoms, and executive and attentional functions. Patients were stratified according to the presence of visual hallucinations at baseline. The study included 188 visual hallucinators (118 on rivastigmine, 70 on placebo) and 348 nonvisual hallucinators (239 on rivastigmine, 109 on placebo). Rivastigmine provided benefits in both visual hallucinators and nonvisual hallucinators. Absolute responses to rivastigmine on the ADAS-cog were comparable over 6 months, although rivastigmine-placebo differences tended to be larger in visual hallucinators (4.27; P = 0.002) than in nonhallucinators (2.09; P = 0.015). On the ADCS-CGIC, differences between rivastigmine and placebo were 0.5 in visual hallucinators (P = 0.030) and 0.3 in nonhallucinators (P = 0.111). Rivastigmine provided benefits on all secondary efficacy measures, and placebo declines and treatment differences were more marked in visual hallucinators. Adverse events were reported more frequently by rivastigmine-treated patients, although this difference was less marked in visual hallucinators. Visual hallucinations appear to predict more rapid decline and possibly greater therapeutic benefit from rivastigmine treatment in PDD.
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PMID:Effects of rivastigmine in patients with and without visual hallucinations in dementia associated with Parkinson's disease. 1737 57

Forty-one Parkinson's disease patients with dementia (21 galantamine group, 20--control group) with onset of dementia at least two years after the manifestation of parkinsonian symptoms participated in this open-label controlled trial of galantamine in maximum dose 16 mg/day. Cognitive, psychiatric and motor symptoms were assessed before and after 4, 12 and 24 weeks of treatment using clinical assessment as well as rating scales, including the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), ADAS-cog, clock drawing test, Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-12) with assessment of caregiver distress. Patients treated with galantamine had better scores on MMSE (p<0,05), ADAS-cog (p<0,05), clock drawing test (p<0,05) and FAB (p<0,01) to the end of the trial comparing to the control group. NPI scores on individual items changed from baseline at week 12 and 24, showing benefits of galantamine treatment as compared to the controls, with significant difference for hallucinations (p=0,0002), anxiety (p=0,04), sleep disorders (p=0,04) and apathy (p=0,006). Galantamine therapy was associated with a significant reduction in caregiver distress (p=0,007), improvement of daily life activity (p=0,003). Gait, freezing and falls were improved in the galantamine group but a mild worsening of tremor was noted in two patients. Adverse events (drooling, postural hypotension, nausea, dysuria) were observed in 7 (30%) of galantamine treated patients.
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PMID:[Efficacy and safety of galantamine (reminyl) in the treatment of dementia in patients with Parkinson's disease (open-label controlled trial)]. 1842 56

The effects of rivastigmine versus placebo in Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) patients with elevated or normal/low plasma homocysteine were determined. In this prospective analysis of a 24-week, randomly assigned, placebo-controlled study of rivastigmine in PDD, subpopulations comprised patients with plasma homocysteine >or=14 micromol/L (elevated) or <14 micromol/L (normal/low). Coprimary outcomes were the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and Alzheimer Disease Cooperative Society-Clinical Global Impression of Change (ADCS-CGIC). Secondary outcomes included additional measures of cognition, including attention and executive function, daily function, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored. In total, 342 of 541 patients provided samples for analysis, from which 72% had elevated plasma homocysteine. Hyperhomocysteinemic patients showed treatment differences (rivastigmine vs. placebo) of 4.0 on ADAS-cog and 0.7 on ADCS-CGIC (both P < 0.01), and significant treatment differences on secondary outcomes. Rivastigmine- and placebo-treated hyperhomocysteinemic patients (16.5% and 14.6%) discontinued the study because of AEs. Patients with normal/low homocysteine showed no treatment differences on primary or secondary outcomes (1.4 on the ADAS-cog and 0.1 on ADCS-CGIC, both P = ns); 16.7% and 10.3% rivastigmine- and placebo-treated patients discontinued because of AEs. Elevated homocysteine was associated with greater rivastigmine treatment differences than normal/low homocysteine.
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PMID:Rivastigmine versus placebo in hyperhomocysteinemic Parkinson's disease dementia patients. 1858 67

An open controlled trial of the use of galantamine at a maximum dose of 16 mg/day included 41 patients with Parkinson's disease with dementia randomized to a galantamine treatment group (21 patients) and a control group (20 patients). Cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and motor symptoms were assessed clinically before the trial and at 4, 12, and 24 weeks, using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the cognitive Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog), the clock drawing test, the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) with assessment of distress in relatives. Patients treated with galantamine had better scores on the MMSE (p < 0.05),ADAS-cog (p < 0.05), the clock drawing test (p < 0.05), and the FAB (p < 0.01) at the end of the study period as compared with the control group. Changes in total point scores on the NPI-12 at the ends of weeks 12 and 24, as compared with the beginning of the trial, were in favor of the group treated with galantamine, with significant changes in the hallucinations (p = 0.0002), anxiety (p = 0.04), sleep disturbance (p = 0.04), and apathy (p = 0.006) sections. Galantamine treatment was accompanied by decreases in the level of distress in patients' relatives (p = 0.007) and improvements in daily activity (p = 0.003). Improvements in gait and decreases in freezing and falls were seen in the galantamine treatment group. However, two patients of this group showed minor increases in tremor. Side effects (drooling, postural hypotension, nausea, dysuria) occurred in seven patients (30%).
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PMID:Efficacy and safety of galantamine (reminyl) for dementia in patients with Parkinson's disease (an open controlled trial). 1897 3

The study has investigated the effect of NMDA-glutamate receptor antagonist memantine in the 52-weeks therapy of 32 PD patients with dementia (PDD) compared with the control group (30 cases). Patients of the active group received memantine (20 mg per day) additionally to dopaminergic therapy. Patients from the control group continued the treatment with antiparkinsonian drugs. Cognitive, psychiatric and motor symptoms have been assessed before and after 12, 24 and 52 weeks of the study using clinical assessment as well as rating scales including the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), ADAS-cog, clock drawing test, D-KEFS Verbal Fluency test, the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-12) and the Disability Assessment for Dementia Scale (DAD). The plasma total Hcy level was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Patients treated with memantine had better MMSE (p<0,05), ADAS-cog (p<0,05), clock drawing test (p<0,05) and FAB (p<0,01) scores compared to patients in the control group at week 24. Patients with elevated Hcy demonstrated a significantly better response to memantine therapy versus the controls with elevated Hcy at week 24, 52 with respect to all efficacy measures (UPDRS, MMSE, ADAS-cog, D-KEFS, Verbal Fluency test, FAB, NPI, DAD, p<0,05). The NPI individual item scores changes from baseline to week 52 have shown benefits to memantine treatment compared with the controls with significant treatment differences for disinhibition (p<0,006), irritability (p<0,04), anxiety (p<0,04) and hallucinations (p<0,048). Hyperhomocysteinemia may indicate the more rapid cognitive and motor decline in PD. The prolonged therapy with memantine in PDD led to improvements in cognitive functions and preservation of motor functional abilities as well as the amelioration of neuropsychiatric symptoms, especially in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia.
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PMID:[Memantine (akatinol) therapy of cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease complicated by dementia]. 1900 50


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