title: The relationship between donepezil and behavioral disturbances in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: The authors tested the hypothesis that behavioral disturbances are reported at significantly lower rates by caregivers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients receiving the antidementia drug donepezil, compared with a group of patients receiving no antidementia drug treatment. Patients administered donepezilfor 6 months (n=84) were compared with patients not on donepezil (n=248). Patients taking donepezil had significantly lower levels of behavioral disturbances than patients not receiving this agent (P< or =0.011). Specifically, donepezil patients were described as significantly (P< or =0.05) less likely to be threatening, destroy property, and talk loudly. Also, significantly fewer patients receiving donepezil were treated with sedatives (P< or =0.005). These findings support the growing body of evidence that cholinesterase inhibitors have psychotropic properties and reduce behavioral disturbances in patients with AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Donohue
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D000077265:Donepezil; D006801:Humans; D007189:Indans / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007189:Indans; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D000077265:Donepezil