Review: pharmacotherapy improves cognitive symptoms in dementia.

M e t h o d s Data sources: Cochrane Central Trial Registry (containing MEDLINE and EMBASE/ Excerpta Medica citations to 1998) (to 2003), MEDLINE (1998 to 2003 wk 4), EMBASE/ Excerpta Medica (1998 to 2003 wk 5), AMED (1985 to February 2003), CINAHL (1982 to February 2003), Ageline (1978 to December 2002), and PsycINFO (1967 to December 2003); and references of retrieved articles. Study selection and assessment: Studies were selected if they were English-language parallel-group randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of pharmacologic agents in patients ≥ 18 years of age with dementia. Study quality was assessed using the modified Jadad scale for RCTs. Outcomes: Outcomes included changes in general and specific cognitive function, global assessment, behavior and mood, quality of life and activities of daily living, and caregiver burden.