Rivastigmine Patch in Veterans With Cognitive Impairment Following TBI

Summary

Difficulties with intellectual functioning, particularly memory functions, are common and source of long-term disability after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). However, there is very little information about pharmacologic (i.e., medication) treatments targeting these deficits. There are growing data showing brain abnormalities in acetylcholine, the chemical system that manages memory, in TBI. These findings provide the rationale for the use of cholinesterase inhibitors, medications that modulate this system, in TBI patients. As the prevalence of TBI among Veterans of recent military conflicts increases, becoming a "signature injury" of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, it is of utmost importance to the Veterans Health Administration to collect scientific data on the efficacy of pharmacological treatments for intellectual difficulties in TBI patients. This study will evaluate the effects of the cholinesterase inhibitor rivastigmine transdermal patch in Veterans with TBI and posttraumatic memory problems. Results will provide much needed data that will help treat Veterans with TBI.

Timeline

Start

2012-12

Primary completion

2016-06

Completion

2017-09

Publications

• Brody DL. Taking a Bite of the Elephant: A Well-Executed Clinical Trial Answers a Key Question About Rivastigmine Treatment for Memory Impairment after TBI. J Neurotrauma. 2021 Jul 15;38(14):1889. doi: 10.1089/neu.2021.29110.editorial. No abstract available.
• Brawman-Mintzer O, Tang XC, Bizien M, Harvey PD, Horner MD, Arciniegas DB, Raskind M, Johnson-Greene L, Martineau RJ, Hamner M, Rodriguez-Suarez M, Jorge RE, McGarity S, Wortzel HS, Wei Y, Sindowski T, Mintzer J, Kindy AZ, Donovan K, Reda D. Rivastigmine Transdermal Patch Treatment for Moderate to Severe Cognitive Impairment in Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (RiVET Study): A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Neurotrauma. 2021 Jul 15;38(14):1943-1952. doi: 10.1089/neu.2020.7146. Epub 2021 Mar 8.

Drugs

Indications