title: Clinical benefits of a new piperidine-class AChE inhibitor.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with a deficiency of acetylcholine (ACh) in the forebrain that correlates with brain pathology and cognitive dysfunction. The most promising approach to enhancing central ACh neurotransmission has been the utilization of agents that inhibit cholinesterases which block its catabolism. Initially, the success of this strategy was limited by subtherapeutic levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, tolerability problems and toxicity of the first agents. Donepezil HCI represents a new chemical class of AChE inhibitors, the piperidines. In clinical trials, donepezil has been shown to improve significantly cognition and global function in patients with mild to moderately severe AD, and has demonstrated an excellent tolerability and safety profile. These benefits, as well as a simple, once-daily dosing regimen, make donepezil a viable therapeutic option for AD patients.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Doody
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000077265:Donepezil; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D000077265:Donepezil