Effect of Donepezil on Cognitive Function in Patients with Brain Injury.
- Author:
Yun Hee KIM
1
;
Seung Hun SHIN
;
Sung Hee PARK
;
Myoung Hwan KO
Author Information
1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University Bundang CHA General Hospital, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Donepezil;
Cognitive function;
Brain injury
- MeSH:
Brain Injuries*;
Brain*;
Education;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Learning;
Memory;
Neuropsychological Tests;
Verbal Learning
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine
2002;26(4):374-378
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of donepezil on cognitive function in patients with brain injury who had cognitive impairment. METHOD: Twenty one subjects with brain injury (18 males,3 females) were enrolled and classified into two groups, experimental and control group. There was no significant difference between two groups in age, postonset duration, and level of education. For the experimental group, one tablelet of Aricept(R) (5 mg of donepezil per tablet) was administered daily for 6 weeks. The baseline and follow up cognitive assessments were performed before and 6 weeks after. Mini- mental Status Examination (MMSE), Computerized Neuropsychologic Test (CNT), Judgement of Line Orientation (JLO), and visuospatial Wechsler memory test were used for the assessment of cognitive function. RESULTS: In baseline study, two groups showed no difference in their cognitive function. After 6 weeks, the experimental group showed significantly higher performance in forward digit span, verbal learning test, backward visual span, visual learning test, non-verbal Wechsler memory test, and judgement of line orientaion than control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the administration of Aricept(R) was beneficial in improving the cognitive func tion, especially verbal and visual memory and visuospatial perception in patients with brain injury.
