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 ) .
Effects of rivastigmine on memory and cognition in multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND Cognitive dysfunction is one of the common clinical symptoms in multiple sclerosis ( MS ) , but there is no effective treatment for it . OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rivastigmine in treating memory and cognitive dysfunction in MS . METHODS A single-center double-blind placebo-controlled r and omized clinical trial conducted from October 2005 to February 2007 . Sixty definite MS patients with cognitive impairment age 16 to 54 years were r and omly allocated to receive a 12-week treatment course of either rivastigmine ( 1.5 mg once a day increment over 4 weeks to 3 mg twice daily ) or placebo . Response to treatment was assessed by the Wechsler Memory Scale ( WMS ) at baseline and 12 weeks after start of therapy . RESULTS A slight , but significant memory improvement occurred in both groups . Of the 30 patients treated with rivastigmine , the mean ( SD ) WMS general memory score increased from 60.3 ( 4.2 ) at baseline to 64.9 ( 5.3 ) at the end of study period ( P<0.001 ) . Correspondingly , in the 30 patients treated with placebo , the mean ( SD ) WMS general memory score increased from 60.5 ( 4.9 ) to 64.5 ( 3.7 ) ( P < 0.001 ) . The average WMS general memory score at the end of trial did not changed between rivastigmine and placebo group ( mean difference , 0.4 ; 95 % CI , -2.0 , 2.8 ) . CONCLUSION No significant differences were seen between rivastigmine and placebo on the mean ( SD ) WMS general memory score . A larger multicenter study of rivastigmine in MS is warranted in order to more definitely assess the efficacy of this intervention
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 ) .