Five-Year Outcome of Cholinergic Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: Early Response Predicts Prolonged Time until Nursing Home Placement, but Does Not Alter Life Expectancy.
Fifty consecutive outpatients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) received treatment with the cholinesterase inhibitor tacrine in an open longitudinal study. Assessments using Mini-Mental State Examination, Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale – cognitive subscale, and a global rating were made at baseline and at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months. Three outcome groups were characterized: responders, uncha