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.