Therapeutic standards in Alzheimer disease

Donepezil is an effective, well-tolerated, and easily administered symptoma tic treatment for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease (AD). Data from Phase III clinical trials have demonstrated that donepezil improves cognition, gl obal function, and activities of daily living. In addition, there were no c linically significant treatment-related effects on vital signs or laborator y values in any trial. Adverse events, when present, were generally mild in intensity, transient, and resolved during continued treatment with donepez il. This favorable safety profile, together with its reported clinical bene fits established donepezil as one standard of AD therapy. Vitamin E is one of two anti-oxidant therapies that may help to slow the progression of AD o ver at least a two-year period. One large-scale clinical trial suggests tha t it has sufficient benefit and safety to join donepezil as a current stand ard of AD therapy.