Whilst there was only a limited pool of relatively small trials and a number of different compounds , we found that collectively , both AChEIs ( donepezil and rivastigmine ) and stimulants ( methylpheni date , modafinil , l‐amphetamine sulfate and lisdexamfetamine dimesylate ) offered no significant benefits over placebo on measures of processing speed , working memory , verbal fluency , verbal memory , visuospatial memory or executive functioning
HighlightsCognitive deficits are present in up to 70 % of people with multiple sclerosis (MS).There are no approved treatments for these difficulties .
We examined whether adjunctive pharmacotherapies can improve cognition in MS.Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors offered no significant benefits over placebo .
Stimulant‐based medications offered no significant benefits over placebo .
& NA ; We sought to examine the effectiveness of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors ( AChEIs ) and stimulant‐based medications for improving cognitive performance in patients with multiple sclerosis ( MS ) .
Randomised multicentre trial on safety and efficacy of rivastigmine in cognitively impaired multiple sclerosis patients
Background : Cognitive decline has been recognised as a frequent symptom in multiple sclerosis ( MS ) .  Cholinesterase inhibitors ( ChEIs ) are employed for the treatment of Alzheimer ’s disease , but there is some evidence that ChEIs might also be effective in MS patients with cognitive deficits , particularly deficits of memory function . Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy on memory function and safety of the ChEI rivastigmine in MS patients with cognitive deficits as measured by the change from baseline of the total recall score of the selective reminding test ( SRT ) after 16 weeks of treatment . Methods : Efficacy and safety of rivastigmine were analysed in a 16-week , multicentre , double-blind , r and omised , placebo-controlled study , followed by an optional one-year open-label treatment phase . Effects of rivastigmine and placebo were compared by an analysis of covariance . Results : In total , 86 patients were enrolled . Patients who received rivastigmine ( n = 43 ) showed a non-significant increase in total recall score ( sum of all words immediately recalled over all six trials ) over placebo ( n = 38 ) after 16 weeks of treatment ( p = 0.2576 ) . Other outcome measures provided no evidence supporting benefits of rivastigmine . Treatment with rivastigmine was well tolerated . Conclusions : With the results of this study , the need for an effective therapy in cognitively impaired MS patients is still required . Thus , intensive and continued clinical research is required to explore therapeutic options for cognitive deficits in MS patients
Whilst there was only a limited pool of relatively small trials and a number of different compounds , we found that collectively , both AChEIs ( donepezil and rivastigmine ) and stimulants ( methylpheni date , modafinil , l‐amphetamine sulfate and lisdexamfetamine dimesylate ) offered no significant benefits over placebo on measures of processing speed , working memory , verbal fluency , verbal memory , visuospatial memory or executive functioning
HighlightsCognitive deficits are present in up to 70 % of people with multiple sclerosis (MS).There are no approved treatments for these difficulties .
We examined whether adjunctive pharmacotherapies can improve cognition in MS.Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors offered no significant benefits over placebo .
Stimulant‐based medications offered no significant benefits over placebo .
& NA ; We sought to examine the effectiveness of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors ( AChEIs ) and stimulant‐based medications for improving cognitive performance in patients with multiple sclerosis ( MS ) .