Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are commonly used therapies indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and its symptoms. A new study has linked these drugs with preserved kidney function and reduced risk of death.
Investigators tracked outcomes in patients living with Alzheimer’s who were prescribed the ChEIs donepezil, rivastigmine or galantamine within three months of their dementia diagnosis. The researchers cited evidence from past studies that the drugs’ anti-inflammatory effects may play an important role in the treatment of chronic kidney diseases.
They found that the use of ChEIs was associated with an 18% lower risk of kidney function decline over 10 years of follow-up, and 21% lower mortality, when compared with patients who remained untreated.
The drugs, introduced in the 1990s, have been found to slightly delay cognitive decline in people who have mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. Evidence has shown that ChEIs may prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical believed to be important for memory and thinking, according to the National Institute on Aging.
The researchers may pursue a clinical trial to further test their findings.
The study was published in the journal Kidney International.
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