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The cholinesterase inhibitors have been
studied for non-AD dementias including vascular dementia, dementia
with Lewy bodies, and Parkinson’s disease dementia. While
the cholinergic system is relatively preserved in frontotemporal
dementias (FTD), investigators have wondered if treatment with
CIs might improve neuropsychiatric behaviours. In a small open-label
study of 12 patients with FTD, six months of treatment with
donepezil resulted in no significant cognitive or functional
benefits (Mendez et al ). Furthermore, several patients
actually experienced worsened behaviours including disinhibition
and compulsions.
Preliminary findings: behavioral
worsening on donepezil in patients with frontotemporal dementia
(Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2007;15:84-87)
M.F. MENDEZ, MD, PHD,
J.S. SHAPIRA, RN, PHD,
A. MCMURTRAY, MD,
E. LICHT, MD
Los Angeles, CA
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