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Objectives: To assess the effects of rivastigmine on the core domains of Alzheimer9s disease.

Design: Prospective, randomised, multicentre, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group trial. Patients received either placebo, 1-4 mg/day (lower dose) rivastigmine, or 6-12 mg/day (higher dose) rivastigmine. Doses were increased in one of two fixed dose ranges (1-4 mg/day or 6-12 mg/day) over the first 12 weeks with a subsequent assessment period of 14 weeks.

Setting: 45 centres in Europe and North America.

Participants: 725 patients with mild to moderately severe probable Alzheimer9s disease diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, and the criteria of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer9s Disease and Related Disorders Association.

Outcome measures: Cognitive subscale of the …