Effects of a central cholinesterase inhibitor on reducing falls in Parkinson disease.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate if a central cholinesterase inhibitor will reduce falling frequency in subjects with Parkinson disease (PD) with advanced postural instability.

Background

Falling due to postural instability is a significant problem in advancing PD, and is minimally impacted by dopaminergic therapy. Anticholinergic medications increase falling in the elderly. Further, CNS cholinergic neuron loss occurs in PD. We hypothesized that acetylcholine augmentation may reduce frequent falling in subjects with PD.

Methods

We enrolled 23 subjects with PD who reported falling or nearly falling more than 2 times per week. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover design, subjects were given 6 weeks of donepezil or placebo with a 3-week washout between phases. The prim

SUBMITTER: Chung KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3013493 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature