A University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study found that donepezil improves cognition when used with an anti-depressant for depressed adults ages 65 and up. The study is published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, and it is the first to scientifically provide a pathway for older adults with cognitive complications and depression.
Donepezil is more commonly known under its trade name, Aricept and is used to treat dementia in Alzheimer patients. The lead author of the study Dr. Charles Reynolds III, the chair of geriatric psychiatry for UPMC, says 130 patients were observed for two years and 63 received a placebo and 67 received donepezil in combination with their anti-depressants.
Donepezil is more commonly known under its trade name, Aricept and is used to treat dementia in Alzheimer patients. The lead author of the study Dr. Charles Reynolds III, the chair of geriatric psychiatry for UPMC, says 130 patients were observed for two years and 63 received a placebo and 67 received donepezil in combination with their anti-depressants.
"It was during that period of 24 months that we found both improvement in cognition but also a delay in the onset of clinically diagnosed dementia in older adults with depression."
Dr. Reynolds says donepezil delayed the onset of dementia and improved cognitive activity,
Dr. Reynolds says donepezil delayed the onset of dementia and improved cognitive activity,
"While treatment of depression usually benefits associated cognitive impairment, it does not completely regulate cognitive impairment and may not delay the progression to dementia. So, even in remission, older adults with past depression may still show residual cognitive difficulties, such as slowing of information processing speed and impairments in executive or language function. Our study showed that by adding donepezil, cognition can be improved beyond that which is seen simply with the treatment of depression itself.
ast depression may still show residual cognitive difficulties, such as slowing of information processing speed and impairments in executive or language function. Our study showed that by adding donepezil, cognition can be improved beyond that which is seen simply with the treatment of depression itself.”
But some patients experienced a recurrence of depression episodes. Other side effects included nightmares and GI disturbances such as loose bowel movements, but Reynolds says that all the side effects were easily treatable.
Reynolds notes that donepezil is only for older depressed adults who have cognitive complications such as language impairment and memory difficulty.
Reynolds notes that donepezil is only for older depressed adults who have cognitive complications such as language impairment and memory difficulty.
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