Amnesia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Amnesia, including details on memory loss, causes, treatment, brain injury,.

Rivastigmine in Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome: five patients with rivastigmine showed no more improvement than five patients without rivastigmine.

Luykx HJ, Dorresteijn LD, Haffmans PM, Bonebakker A, Kerkmeer M, Hendriks VM

Parnassia Groep, The Hague, The Netherlands. luykxj@parnassia.nl

AIMS: To evaluate whether rivastigmine, an achetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEl), may be effective in restoring memory in Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome (WKS). METHODS: Five patients treated with rivastigmine for a period of 6 months were compared with five matched control patients, who received 6 months' conventional treatment, but without rivastigmine. Memory tests were administered at baseline and after 6 months. RESULTS: Slight improvements were observed in both rivastigmine and control patients, but no significant differences in improvements were found between the study groups. CONCLUSION: Treatment with rivastigmine may not be effective in restoring memory in WKS patients.

Published 18 December 2007 in Alcohol Alcohol, 43(1): 70-2.
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