Cholinesterase inhibitors: beyond Alzheimer’s disease

Expert Rev Neurother. 2010 Nov;10(11):1699-705. doi: 10.1586/ern.10.105.

Abstract

Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are widely licensed for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, but their use has also been examined in a wide variety of neurological disorders besides Alzheimer’s disease, and this article reviews these uses. The evidence currently available suggests that ChEIs may possibly have a role in the treatment of some patients with dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia, but at this point in time there would seem to be only a limited case for recommending ChEIs in mild cognitive impairment, Down syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, pure vascular dementia, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, delirium, traumatic brain injury, sleep-related disorders or certain psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia and bipolar disorder). Clinical practice with respect to non-Alzheimer’s disease indications for ChEIs may vary according to jurisdiction, specifically with regards to whether national guidelines effectively limit off-licence drug use.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Cognition Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Dementia / drug therapy*
  • Down Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Schizophrenia / drug therapy

Substances

  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors