Effect of cholinergic treatment depends on cholinergic integrity in early Alzheimer's disease.

In early Alzheimer's disease, which initially presents with progressive loss of short-term memory, neurodegeneration especially affects cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain. Pharmacotherapy of Alzheimer's disease therefore often targets the cholinergic system. In contrast, cholinergic pharmacotherapy of mild cognitive impairment is debated since its efficacy to date remains controversial.