A new study, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, suggests that cholinesterase inhibitors are beneficial for people with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). DLB is one of the most common types of dementia. There is currently no cure for DLB but there are treatments that can help control some of the symptoms such as cholinesterase inhibitors. In the published study, the research team from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden conducted an observational study aiming to investigate the long-term effects of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, assessing their impact on cognition, major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality in people with DLB.
The study used data from 1.095 people with DLB from the Swedish Registry on cognitive/dementia disorders. Findings showed that the use of cholinesterase inhibitors, particularly two types called donepezil and galantamine, significantly slowed cognitive decline over a 5-year follow-up period when compared to both memantine treatment or no treatment. No difference in major adverse cardiovascular events was seen for the treatment groups. There was also an association observed for cholinesterase inhibitors use with a lower risk for death in the first year after DLB diagnosis, but this effect was not sustained after 1 year in people with DLB. The authors discussed the potential cognitive benefits of cholinesterase inhibitors in people with DLB and noted that further research is necessary to better elucidate the underlying mechanisms and the long-term outcomes.
