"Donepezil Improves Cognition in Brain Tumor Patients"

[Kaye]

"Donepezil Improves Cognition in Brain Tumor Patients"

"NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 07 - Treatment with the acetylcholinesterase
inhibitor donepezil leads to significant improvement in cognitive function and
quality of life in patients who have undergone radiotherapy for brain tumors,
according to findings of a phase II, open-label trial.

Brain tumors and their treatment, including radiation therapy, lead to
cognitive impairment in many patients, Dr. Stephen R. Rapp and colleagues at Wake
Forest University School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina point out.

The researchers hypothesized that radiation may cause neuronal injury that
leads to acetylcholine deficiency. Therefore donepezil, an agent approved for
Alzheimer's disease dementia, may have a therapeutic effect by increasing
acetylcholine levels.

To investigate, the team treated patients, who had undergone radiation
therapy for a brain tumor, with donepezil 5 mg per day for 6 weeks and then 10 mg
per day for another 18 weeks. The findings are published in the March 20th issue
of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Twenty-four patients, most of whom had low-grade gliomas, completed the
study. They were significantly improved from baseline in measures of attention and
concentration and verbal and figural memory. There was also a trend towards
increased verbal fluency.

Confusion was reduced and patients also appeared to have lower levels of
fatigue and anger. Health-related quality of life improved significantly and there
was a trend towards improvement in social and emotional functioning.
These findings, senior investigator Dr. Rapp said in a statement, "encourage
continued investigation of donepezil and other acetylcholinesterase
inhibitors." The researchers are currently planning a double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial "to confirm these favorable results." '
J Clin Oncol 2006;24:1415-1420.