Short-term rivastigmine treatment reduces EEG slow-wave power in Alzheimerpatients

The effects of a 5-day treatment with rivastigmine on the resting EEG power spectrum were studied in 15 mildly to moderately ill Alzheimer patients. I n these patients, beta power was positively correlated with cognitive perfo rmance and negatively correlated with functional impairment. Rivastigmine p roduced a decrease in delta and theta power with no effect of hemisphere an d electrode position. Delta power decrease reflects the cerebral cholinergi c action of rivastigmine and may thus allow a quantitative assessment of it s CNS effects. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.