Donepezil Significantly Improves Abilities in Daily Lives of Female down Syndrome Patients with Severe Cognitive Impairment: A 24-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

Down syndrome (DS) patients share certain neuropathological features with Alzheimer disease patients. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed to investigate the efficacy and safety of donepezil, an Alzheimer disease drug, for DS patients. Twenty-one DS patients with severe cognitive impairment were assigned to take donepezil (3 mg daily) or a placebo for 24 weeks, and evaluated for activities in daily lives by concisely modified International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) scaling system. ICF scores significantly increased without any adverse effects in the donepezil group in comparison to those in the placebo control. Among the individual functions tested, there was a dramatic improvement in the global mental functions and in specific mental functions. Donepezil may effectively and safely improve overall functioning of DS patients with severe cognitive impairment.