TABLE 2.  Cholinergic pharmacologic challenge studies in Alzheimer’s disease patients and controls

Pharmacologic

agent

 

N

 

Group

 

Dose/route

 

Results

 

References

Scopolamine

10

10

10

 6

AD

NC

AD

NC

0.1, 0.25, 0.5 mg i.v.

 

0.1-0.5 mg i.m.

{ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!uparrow.bmp} Cognitive and behavioral

sensitivity

{ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!uparrow.bmp} Cognitive sensitivity in AD

66

 

32a

 

Arecoline

12

15

 6

 4

AD

AD

AD

NC

1, 2, 4 mg/liter i.v.

5 mg i.v.

4 mg i.v.

No cognitive improvement

No cognitive improvement

{ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!uparrow.bmp} CSF HVA in AD versus controls

70

58

56a

 

Physostigmine

12

11

10

 

10

12

12

AD

Dementia

AD

 

AD

AD

NC

0.75 mg i.v.

0.004-0.013 mg/kg i.m.

0.50 mg i.v. + variable

infusion

60 mg/kg p.o.

0.0125 mg/kg i.v.

{ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!uparrow.bmp} Picture recognition

{ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!uparrow.bmp} Selective reminding, {ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!dnarrow.bmp} intrusions

{ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!uparrow.bmp} Reaction time, no memory {ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!uparrow.bmp}

 

{ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!uparrow.bmp} Plasma cortisol & {ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!dnarrow.bmp} cholinesterase

{ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!dnarrow.bmp} Plasma vasopressin, endorphin,

epinephrine versus controls

7

63

27

 

37

60

 

Edrophonium

14

 8

12

 8

AD

NC

AD

NC

0.13/kg i.v.

 

0.15 mg/kg i.v.

{ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!dnarrow.bmp} GH response versus control

 

No difference versus controls

71

 

16

 

Nictotine

 6

 

11

 

AD

 

AD

0.125, 0.25, 0.5 mg/kg/

min

0.125, 0.25, 0.5 mg/kg/

min i.v.

{ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!dnarrow.bmp} Intrusion errors

 

{ewc MVIMG, MVIMAGE,!uparrow.bmp} Prolactin in AD. no difference from

controls for ACTH, cortisol

50

 

48

 

Back to Chapter

 

published 2000