PHYSOSTIGMINE AMELIORATES THE DELUSIONS OF ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients frequently manifest delusions, and t he cholinergic deficiency of AD may contribute to this aspect of the p sychopathology of the disorder. In a double-blind, crossover study inv olving two patients, we compared the antidelusional efficacy of physos tigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, with haloperidol, a widely used neuroleptic agent. Physostigmine ameliorated the delusions and p roduced fewer side effects. These preliminary observations suggest tha t the cholinergic deficiency contributes to the occurrence of delusion s in AD and cholinergic therapy may have a role in the treatment of th e delusional symptoms.