Changes in metabolite ratios after treatment with rivastigmine in Alzheimer's disease: a nonrandomised controlled trial with magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Background: Alzheimer’s disease is associated with abnormalities in the levels of some brain metabolites, including decreases in N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) and increases in myo-inositol and choline levels. Cholinesterase inhibitors have proven modest effects on cognition in patients with mild or moderate Alzheimer’s disease; however, there is little information on the effects of these drugs on metabolic parameters in the brain. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides a method of determining changes in such parameters.