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Intracerebroventricular Bethanechol Chloride Administration in Alzheimer's Disease a
Author(s) -
HARBAUGH ROBERT E.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1988.tb31824.x
Subject(s) - medicine , bethanechol , crossover study , placebo , disease , anesthesia , alzheimer's disease , pathology , receptor , muscarinic acetylcholine receptor , alternative medicine
In June 1983 we began evaluating intracerebroventricular (ICV) cholinergic drug infusion in patients with biopsy-documented Alzheimer's disease (AD). An initial trial in four patients showed this treatment approach to be feasible, but objective improvement in cognitive or social function was not documented. A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study involving a larger number of patients has since been done. The results of this study, presented here, document a statistically significant improvement in some neuropsychological test results during periods of drug infusion. However, the degree of improvement is not sufficient to justify further treatment with the presently available drug, bethanechol chloride.