Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors to Improve Cognitive Function and Overall Rehabilitation After a Stroke

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2005-03-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in improving cognitive function and overall rehabilitation in elderly stroke survivors.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh
• Collaborator: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Treatments: Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Donepezil; Galantamine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Admitted to a rehabilitation hospital with primary diagnosis of ischemic stroke (cardiovascular accident)

• Stroke was within 30 days of being admitted

• Medically stable

• Presence of memory and/or attentional impairments and evidence that these impairments were not present or were less severe prior to the stroke (assessed via interview with family)

• Approval by individual's attending physician at the rehabilitation hospital

Exclusion Criteria:

• Aphasia or cognitive (or behavioral) impairments severe enough to prevent valid neuropsychiatric assessment

• Currently experiencing a major depressive episode (unless treated and in partial remission, assessed using the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders)

• Current psychosis or mania

• History of substance or alcohol abuse or dependence within three months of study entry

• Currently taking a cholinomimetic drug

• Medical condition with known sensitivity to donepezil (e.g., slower than normal heart rate, supraventricular cardiac conduction defects, severe asthma or obstructive pulmonary disease, active upper gastrointestinal bleed, or gastric/duodenal ulcer if not on acid-blocking agent)

• Informed that taking donepezil is medically inadvisable

• Current use of any anticholinergic medication (e.g., for bladder spasm)