Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and depressive symptoms in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEis) therapy in Alzheimer Disease (AD) has been shown to provide cognitive benefits and to slow progression of the disease. AChEis have also been demonstrated to improve behavioral symptoms, although there seem to be subtle differences in the magnitude of response. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of 16 weeks treatment with AChEis on depressive symptoms in a selected sample of AD patients in routine clinical practice. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A study of 135 patients with Alzheimer's disease. All subjects were assessed at baseline (upon initiation of AChEis therapy) and re-evaluated after 16 weeks. RESULTS: At baseline, "Depressed" and "Not depressed" patients were categorized according to DSM IV criteria for depression in Alzheimer Disease. After 16 weeks of treatment with AchEis, we observed an improvement of mood in the "Depressed" patients. In this group "Mood symptoms", measured with GDS, were independently associated with GDS "Mood symptoms" at baseline, but not with improvement on cognition (mean change of MMSE), age or sex. CONCLUSIONS: In depressed AD subjects, AChEis treatment improves depressive symptoms evaluated by GDS. This improvement is independent of cognition enhancement.