CLINICAL EFFICACY OF DONEPEZIL HYDROCHLORIDE IN PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE - CASE-STUDIES

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of primary progressi ve dementia in the elderly. Early and accurate diagnosis and effective treatment for AD are critical for protecting the patient from dangers that may result from undiagnosed disease, avoidance of family problem s associated with unexplained alterations in behavior, and delay in ef fective intervention. Recent progress in the treatment of AD has made it possible to enhance cognitive functioning or ameliorate the cogniti ve deficits associated with AD by the use of agents such as donepezil hydrochloride, a reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Reviewed h erein are case studies of five patients with mild to moderate AD who w ere treated with donepezil 5 or 10 mg/d for up to 6 months. Clinical o bservations included physician and family impressions and scores on th e Mini-Mental State Examination. Treatment with once-daily donepezil r esulted in either less cognitive deterioration, over a period in which decline is expected because of the progressive nature of AD, or modes t but clinically important improvement in the patient's overall condit ion, or no response to treatment.