Whether Alzheimer's Disease is Responsive to a Single Oral Dose of Donepezil and this Response is Predictive Factor in Alzheimer's Disease

Kwak, Yong Tae; Yang, Youngsoon; Noh, Yong Woo

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Though a proportion of Alzheimer's disease(AD) patients treated with donepezil have shown positive response on cognition, but the responders' characteristics are still uncertain. This study attempts to identify whether a single oral dose of donepezil(5mg) can change cognition and the relationship between single dose responder items and long-term responder are examined.
METHODS
Twenty-three AD patients for single donepezil challenge study group and eleven AD patients for controls were participated in the study. Seven days after baseline study for neuropsychological test and EEG, same studies were rechecked after donepezil medication in study group. In donepezil study groups, 12 weeks after donepezil medication, neuropsychological test and EEG were rechecked.
RESULTS
After single donepezil challenge, forward digit span, Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test copy, SVLT delayed recall were significantly improved, and beta spectra power in anterior, theta spectra power in posterior field were significantly decreased. According to linear regression analysis, forward digit span after single donepezil challenge was significantly positive correlated with long-term responders.
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that single donepezil medication can significantly change cognitive functions and EEG in AD patients. Among these responsive items, forward digit span was significantly correlated with long-term responder.