Dement Neurocogn Disord.  2016 Dec;15(4):153-158. 10.12779/dnd.2016.15.4.153.

The Effect of Rivastigmine Transdermal Patch on Sleep Apnea in Patients with Probable Alzheimer's Disease

• Kim H
• Han HJ

• KMID: 2442842
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12779/dnd.2016.15.4.153

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
This study was designed to evaluate the effect on sleep of rivastigmine transdermal patch in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD).
METHODS
Patients with probable AD underwent a sleep questionnaire, overnight polysomnography and neuropsychological tests before and after rivastigmine transdermal patch treatment. We analyzed the data from enrolled patients with AD.
RESULTS
Fourteen patients with probable AD were finally enrolled in this study. The respiratory disturbance index after the rivastigmine patch treatment was improved in patients with probable AD and sleep breathing disorder, compared with that of before treatment (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Rivastigmine transdermal patch application are expected to improve the symptoms of sleep disordered breathing in patients with probable AD. Further placebo controlled studies are needed to confirm these results.

Keyword

Alzheimer's disease; respiratory disturbance index; rivastigmine patch

MeSH Terms

Alzheimer Disease*
Humans
Neuropsychological Tests
Polysomnography
Respiration
Rivastigmine*
Sleep Apnea Syndromes*
Transdermal Patch*
Rivastigmine

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Study schedule. Nineteen patients enrolled and underwent baseline cognitive and sleep studies. Five patients dropped out due to adverse events related to transdermal treatment. Four patients dropped out for refusal of additional overnight PSG study. Finally, 10 patients were compared, before and after transdermal rivastigmine treatment. ADAS-cog: Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognitive, CDR: clinical dementia rating, MMSE: Mini-Mental State Examination, PSG: polysomnographies.

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