Sustained cognitive improvement following treatment of Alzheimer's disease with donepezil

✍ Scribed by Mavis Evans; Andrew Ellis; David Watson; Tafika Chowdhury

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 70 KB
• Volume: 15
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(200001)15:1<50::aid-gps75>3.0.co;2-m

✦ Synopsis

Objectives:

To audit response to the anticholinesterase inhibitor donepezil in patients referred to a specialist memory clinic, to identify possible means of targeting the drug more accurately.

Design:

All referrals to the clinic who were assessed and treated against a protocol, with structured follow-up.

Subjects:

All referrals of any age with the diagnosis of probable alzheimer's disease, mild to moderately severe. main outcome measures cognitive improvement as measured by serial adas-cog and mmse examinations.

Results:

Two hundred and eight-two patients commenced on treatment, improved cognitive functioning in over 65% of patients reaching 3 months (n=184), 51% on intention to treat analysis (n=231), with significantly greater improvement (p=0.03) in those aged 65 and under. carer reports of behavioural improvement not always linked to cognitive improvement. trend to increased response in those on concomitant antidepressants.

Conclusion:

Three-month assessment for response prior to agreeing continuation of treatment selects a group who maintain their response. younger patients should be targeted for early assessment and treatment.