Donepezil for Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Donepezil is the most widely prescribed of the cholinesterase inhibitors that has been licensed for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Evidence from a number of clinical trials suggests that it improves cognitive performance and stabilizes the functional abilities in people with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Donepezil increases the amount of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain, the deficit of which is thought to play a major role in the clinical presentation of Alzheimer’s disease. Studies show good safety and long-term tolerability. In addition, donepezil’s pharmacokinetic properties make it convenient to prescribe. There are a number of newer drug therapies in various stages of pharmacological development, but donepezil should continue to play a major role in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease for the next few years.

Keywords::

• Alzheimer’s dementia
• cholinesterase inhibitor
• donepezil

Financial & competing interests disclosure

A Burns has received research grant support and ad hoc consultancy fees from Pfizer, Eisai, Shire, Novartis, Janssen Cilag and Lundbeck. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.