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Table 4. Efficacy of Cholinesterase Inhibitors in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease After 3 to 12 Months

Drug (reference) Patients, n Cognitive function1 Clinician-assessed
global function2
Physical function as
assessed by IADLs
Tacrine74 1,984 1.36 to 2.78, sig. 1.18 to 2.11, sig. Inconclusive
Donepezil73;76;77;79;80 1,980 2.12 to 3.01, sig. 2.04 to 2.63, sig. Inconclusive
Rivastigmine72;78 4,095 2.28 to 2.4, sig. 1.4 to 2.36, sig. Inconclusive
Galantamine75 1,674 3.00 to 3.4, sig. 1.71 to 1.94, sig. Inconclusive

Note: sig. indicates statistically significant.

1The mean difference between drug and placebo on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale for Cognition, a 70-point scale.
2The odds ratio for having at least stable range of global function after treatment with drug in comparison with placebo as measured by the Clinician's Interview Based Impression of Change, plus caregiver input scale (CIBIC).

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