Objective: Progress in the management of behavioral symptoms in dementia using cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI).
Design: Review behavioral effects of various ChEI over a period of 6 months - 1 year in nursing home patients with AD.
Materials and Methods: In general, two classes of instruments are used, unidimensional, such as Hamilton Depression Rating Scale or multidimensional, such as the NPI or BEHAVE-AD Scale.
Results: Several studies using various ChEI (rivastigmine, donepezil, galantamine and metrifonate) suggest improvement of behavioral symptoms measured on various scales.
Conclusion: Cholinesterase inhibitors represents an effective treatment approach for behavioral symptoms in AD. Evidence suggests that such an improvement is related to potentiation or restoring of cholinergic function in regions of the brain linked to neuropsychiatric symptoms.
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