BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We sought to assess the efficacy and safety of donepezil in patients with vascular dementia (VaD) fulfilling National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement en Neurosciences criteria. METHODS This international, multicenter, 24-week trial was conducted from March 2003 to August 2005. Patients (N=974;...

OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of donepezil for the treatment of cognitive and behavioral disorders associated with thalamic lesions in a 45-year-old male who suffered an infarct in the left thalamus. BACKGROUND Recent studies suggest that donepezil may improve executive functions impairments due to subcortical ischemic lesions. METHOD The effects of donepezil were analyzed in a single-cas...

BACKGROUND Agitation is a common and distressing symptom in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Cholinesterase inhibitors improve cognitive outcomes in such patients, but the benefits of these drugs for behavioral disturbances are unclear. METHODS We randomly assigned 272 patients with Alzheimer's disease who had clinically significant agitation and no response to a brief psychosocial treatmen...

The aim of this study was to establish kinetic analysis of [5-(11)C-methoxy]donepezil ([(11)C]donepezil), which was developed for the in-vivo visualization of donepezil binding to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) using positron emission tomography (PET). Donepezil is an AChE inhibitor that is widely prescribed to ameliorate the cognitive impairment of patients with dementia. Six healthy subjects too...

BACKGROUND Previous cost-effectiveness studies of cholinesterase inhibitors have modeled Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression and treatment effects through single or global severity measures, or progression to "Full Time Care". This analysis evaluates the cost-effectiveness of donepezil versus memantine or no treatment in Germany by considering correlated changes in cognition, behavior and func...

Donepezil {(RS)-2-[(1-benzyl-4-piperidyl)methyl]-5,6-dimethoxy-2,3-dihydroinden-1-one} is a reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and used for treatment of patients with AD (Alzheimer's disease). Recent studies showed that treatment with donepezil reduced production of inflammatory cytokines in PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells). It was also reported that muscle-derived inflammatory...

BACKGROUND Donepezil is indicated for the management of mild to moderate dementia, particularly in Alzheimer's disease. Several studies have described low adherence rates with donepezil. AIM To examine and measure donepezil adherence, persistence and time to first discontinuation in older New Zealanders. METHODS An inception cohort of 1,999 new users of donepezil, aged 65 years or older, we...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of donepezil for severe Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS Patients with severe AD (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] scores 1 to 12 and Functional Assessment Staging [FAST] scores > or =6) were enrolled in this multinational, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at 98 sites. Patients were randomized to donepezil 10 mg daily or placebo for 24 we...

BACKGROUND The cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil is used to treat mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. Its efficacy in severe dementia has not been assessed and is controversial. Our aim was to ascertain the effectiveness of donepezil in patients with severe Alzheimer's disease, by focusing primarily on cognition and activities of daily living. METHODS We did a 6-month, double-blind, parall...

BACKGROUND Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) such as donepezil have the effect of delaying progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but their effect on life expectancy is unclear. We analyzed the influence of donepezil on life expectancy after onset of AD, together with the effects of antipsychotic drugs and residency in a nursing home. METHODS All outpatients at the Tajiri Clinic from 1999-2...