Observation of Treatment Response among Dementia Patients: A Hospital-Based Study

Background: Dementia is characterized by progressive decline in memory, thinking, reasoning, behavior, and personality. Several pharmacological agents including cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine are used to alleviate symptoms. Objective: This study aimed to observe treatment responses among dementia patients using MMSE scores. Methodology: This observational study was conducted in the Department of Neurology, Comilla Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh, over 1.5 years from July 2021 to December 2022. A total of 75 patients were selected according to predefined criteria. Cognitive improvement was evaluated using MMSE scores before and after treatment. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, including multiple logistic regressions. Results: Among 75 participants, 48 (61.2%) showed improvement, while 29(38.6%) did not. Most patients were aged 66 to 75 years (34.7%). Females constituted 58.7% of the sample. Nearly half (46.7%) were illiterate. The most common symptoms were forgetfulness (100.0%), insomnia (93.3%), and restlessness (78.7%). Hypertension (48.0%), diabetes mellitus (17.3%), and stroke (34.7%) were the major comorbidities. Baseline MMSE scores showed mild to moderate impairment in 74.0% of patients. CT scans commonly revealed cortical atrophy (33.3%). Alzheimer’s disease was diagnosed in 57.3% of patients, and multi-infarct dementia in 42.7%. Rivastigmine was the most frequently prescribed medication (95% of cases). After treatment, 60.0% achieved a normal MMSE score. Overall, 61.3% of patients demonstrated clinical improvement. Conclusion: Alzheimer’s disease was the most common type of dementia in this study. Rivastigmine therapy showed satisfactory levels of improvement in cognitive function. Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, January 2026;12(1):72-79