Neurology · 1977 · 53 citations · 0 references
MedicineNeurologyPharmacologyClinical NeuroscienceNeurodegenerationNeuropharmacologyCholinergic PharmacologyNeurodegenerative Disease PharmacologyNeurodegenerative Disease PharmacotherapyNeurodegenerative DiseasesNeurodegenerative DisordersSpinocerebellar AtaxiasAtaxia Severity ScalesAtaxia SyndromesCholinergic Dysfunction In NeurodegenerationCholinergic ModulationDouble-blind TrialsHereditary AtaxiasNeuronal DysfunctionSpinocerebellar Pathways
Physostigmine was given to 12 patients with various spincerebellar degenerations, and neurologic examinations were recorded on video tapes and assessed on a semiquantitative scale. Forty minutes after a single dose, the scores improved by 35.7 +/- 4.7 percent (means +/- SEM). Eight patients were then studied over sequential 3-month periods by a randomized double-blind trial of physostigmine versus placebo. With physostigmine, scores were 33.9 +/- 8.3 percent better than before treatment or with placebo. Further investigations of cholinergic drugs seem warranted in patients with these diseases.